England Earns Ninth Consecutive Win Against Tough Fiji

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 notched 4 tries after halftime to beat a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an exciting final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now play New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Prior to this match, the English team had won eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the quarter-finals 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 equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be tight.

After slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

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

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the bench 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)