England Earns 9th Consecutive Win Over Physical Fijian Side

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 scored four tries after halftime to beat a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

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

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an entertaining second half.

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

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

England captain 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 fall.

Prior to this meeting, England had won 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most recently winning a close contest in the quarter-finals 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 the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

The winger 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 awarded a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that included six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in spring.

However, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

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

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

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

Should they win, 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)