England Secures Ninth Consecutive 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 notched four tries after halftime to overcome a tough Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Before this match, England had won 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

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

England pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute George's try.

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

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is full of top players and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

Should they win, the substitutes will likely 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)