The English Team Claims Ninth Straight Win Over Tough 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 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

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

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an entertaining second half.

Replacements George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.

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

Before this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most recently winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

After slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through huge first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

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

The winger 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 Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate replacement George's try.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

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

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

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

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)