The English Team Secures 9th Consecutive Victory Against Tough 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

England scored four tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an entertaining second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this encounter, England had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be tight.

Following slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way 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 powerful first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in spring.

However, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate replacement the hooker's score.

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

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

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

It is full of top players and quality, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

Should they win, the bench 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)