England Secures 9th Straight Win Over Physical Fijian Side

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 racked up four second-half tries to defeat a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.

This win continues the English team's winning run to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side clear.

These tries came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the last touchdown.

The English team now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Before this encounter, the English team had won 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players 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 negate replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.

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

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

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

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message next week.

Should they win, the bench 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)