The English Team Secures Ninth Straight 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 notched 4 tries after halftime to beat a physical Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this match, the English team had won 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as 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 especial targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

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

England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against the Italians in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate replacement George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

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

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

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 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)