England Secures 9th Consecutive Win Against 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 racked up four tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and follows up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

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

The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had won eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most recently winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts 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 pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

However, after a clever line-out move was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.

Flanker Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is packed with top players and talent, which has aided in 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 fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

If successful, the substitutes will likely 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)