The English Team Secures Ninth Straight Victory Against Physical Fijian Side

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 4 tries after halftime to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

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

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

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

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

The English team now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently 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 major turning point under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

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

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Australians did score the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

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

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, 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)