England Claims 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 racked up four second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

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

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.

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

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

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the final try.

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

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

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that included six Lions tourists.

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

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.

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

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

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.

If successful, the substitutes will likely 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)