England Earns 9th Straight 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 racked up 4 tries after halftime to beat a resilient Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their win over Australia the previous weekend.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.

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

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

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

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

After slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way 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 defense through powerful first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against Italy in spring.

However, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message next week.

If successful, the bench 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)