The English Team Earns Ninth Consecutive Victory Against 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 4 tries after halftime to defeat a tough Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The English team now play New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Before this match, England had won 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from short distance, 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 powerful first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected 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 awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles versus Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer against 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 picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

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

It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message next week.

If successful, 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)