England Claims 9th Straight Win Over Tough 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

England notched 4 tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

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

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had won 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that included multiple British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute George's try.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

If successful, 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)