England Secures Ninth Consecutive Win 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

England scored 4 second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

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

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling 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 this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Before this meeting, the English team had won eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately winning a close contest 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 equal best streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try 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 clear in defence through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

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

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon against Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement 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)