England Claims 9th Straight Win Over Physical 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 racked up four tries after halftime to beat a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine games and follows up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an exciting final forty minutes.

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

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Maro 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 fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had won eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half 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 yellow card following a bunker review.

England pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon against Italy in March.

However, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players 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 negate substitute the hooker's score.

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

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is full of top players and quality, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.

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)