England Earns Ninth Consecutive Victory Over 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

The English squad scored four tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fijian team in their second fall test match.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and follows up their win over Australia last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Before this match, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

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

Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try 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.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

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

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

Should they win, the substitutes will probably play another key factor.

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)