England Earns 9th Consecutive Victory Over Physical 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 scored four tries after halftime to beat a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

The victory lengthens the English team's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

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

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Before this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in eight 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 just weeks before the tournament in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

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

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure wins 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 next week.

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)