England Earns 9th Consecutive Win 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

England scored 4 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine games and supports their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an thrilling second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the last touchdown.

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

Before this encounter, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through huge first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

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

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

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

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