England Earns Ninth Straight Victory Over Physical 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 4 tries after halftime to overcome a tough 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 last Saturday.

England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an entertaining second half.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most recently 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 streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be tight.

After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is packed with top players and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.

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)