The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Win 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

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

The victory continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

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

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an thrilling second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

These tries came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the final try.

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Before this encounter, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be tight.

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

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 score.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected 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 video review.

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

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against 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 consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances 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)