England Claims 9th Straight Victory Over Physical Fijian Side

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 scored 4 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and follows up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an exciting second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side clear.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

England captain 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 fall.

Before this match, the English team had won eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 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 Borthwick.

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

Following slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

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

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message 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)