The English Team Claims Ninth Straight Win Over Tough Fiji

Quilter Nations 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 notched 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an thrilling second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts clear.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

The English team now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, England had won eight of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

After slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

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

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that included six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory 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 tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.

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

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the bench will likely 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)