The English Team Secures Ninth Straight Victory 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

The English squad racked up 4 tries after halftime to beat a resilient Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and supports their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side clear.

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

England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the final try.

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, England had won 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most recently winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through huge opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

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

The English team pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included multiple British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by 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, Borthwick unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a kick through demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with top players and talent, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

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

Should they win, 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)