England Claims 9th Straight Victory Against Physical Fiji

Quilter Nations 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 tries after halftime to beat a resilient Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine matches and follows up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the final try.

The English team now face New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

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

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as Genge went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is full of top players and quality, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.

Should they win, the substitutes will probably play another key factor.

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)