England Secures 9th Straight Win Over Tough Fijian Side

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 racked up four second-half tries to beat a resilient Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.

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

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an thrilling final forty minutes.

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

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now face New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always expected to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

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

England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the substitutes will probably again be crucial.

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)