The English Team Claims 9th Consecutive Win Over Physical Fijian Side

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 racked up four tries after halftime to beat a tough Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining second half.

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

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

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.

The English team now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

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

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best run since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles against Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.

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

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of stars and quality, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

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)