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England's bench powers ninth consecutive win with Arundell's standout return
England extended their winning streak to nine matches with a commanding 38-18 victory over Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday, as head coach Steve Borthwick's bench replacements-including a dazzling try from Henry Arundell-proved decisive in the final quarter.
The score stood at 21-18 when Borthwick unleashed five British and Irish Lions forwards-Henry Pollock, Tom Curry, Jamie George, Fin Baxter, and Asher Opoku-Fordjour-at the 54-minute mark. Their injection of energy mirrored last week's bench-driven triumph over Australia, as England pulled away from a fatigued Fiji side in the closing stages.
Arundell, marking his 23rd birthday and first international appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, electrified the crowd with a 50-meter sprint past two defenders to score under the posts. The try, set up by Marcus Smith's grubber kick, underscored the impact of England's replacements and the depth now at Borthwick's disposal.
"We have a number of players with pace on the edges and on the wing. It's exactly the tough decisions you want as a head coach."
Steve Borthwick, England head coach
Smith brothers stake claims amid selection battles
Fin Smith, starting at fly-half, delivered a composed 80-minute performance after admitting disappointment with his Lions tour form. His namesake, Marcus Smith, operated at full-back but faced lingering questions about his defensive positioning despite his attacking flair-including the assist for Arundell's try.
The duo's displays come as George Ford remains the likely starter for next week's clash with New Zealand, with Freddie Steward also poised to return from injury. Borthwick emphasized the importance of bench impact, fitness for full matches, and "composure under pressure" as England build toward their 2027 World Cup ambitions.
"This team has come under criticism in tight games. We're still early in the process of becoming the team we want to be-winning the World Cup is the goal, but we know we must improve significantly."
Jamie George, England hooker and former captain
Fiji's threat undone by pivotal TMO call
Fiji, ranked ninth globally, pushed England hard for 60 minutes, with their physicality and offloading game causing problems. A controversial TMO decision denied scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli a try in the 58th minute; replays showed the ball shifting between his arms as he grounded it, a call that Fiji head coach Mick Byrne disputed.
"He had control-the ball went from one arm to the other. That try could've changed the momentum," Byrne said. The Pacific Islanders, riding a five-match winning streak before Saturday, saw their hopes fade as England's bench capitalized on late errors.
Borthwick praised Fiji's progress, noting their Super Rugby Pacific side, the Fijian Drua, could propel them into the world's top four: "They're that good."
All Blacks await as England target 'battle of attrition'
England now turn to a November 16 showdown with New Zealand at Twickenham, seeking revenge after three narrow losses to the All Blacks in 2024. Prop Ellis Genge, who captained the side for the third time, relished the physical challenge ahead:
"They've got some big lumps now-it'll be a battle of attrition. We'll relish that."
Ellis Genge, England prop
New Zealand, fresh from a late bench-inspired win over Scotland, will test England's resilience. Borthwick's side, however, enter the clash with momentum-and a bench that's becoming their secret weapon.
