England Claims Ninth Consecutive Victory Against Physical Fiji

Autumn International Series

England (14) 38

Tries: Cowan-Dickie, Feyi-Waboso, Genge, George, Arundell, Itoje Cons: F Smith 5

Fiji (13) 18

Tries: Ikanivere 2, Muntz Pen: Muntz

The English squad notched four second-half tries to defeat a physical Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

This win lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.

The English team now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Before this encounter, England had won eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through powerful first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that included six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the substitutes will probably again be crucial.

England: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Earl, Cunningham-South

Replacements: George, Baxter, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, Arundell

Fiji: Rayasi; Ravutaumada, Ravouvou, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere, Doge, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Sowakula, Canakaivata, Mata

Replacements: Togiatama, Hetet, Tawake, Vocevoce, Murray, Wye, Armstrong-Ravula, Maqala

Sin-bin: Ravutaumada

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)

Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)