The English Team Secures 9th Consecutive Victory Over Physical Fijian Side

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

England racked up 4 second-half tries to defeat a physical Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

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

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an entertaining second half.

Replacements George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

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

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the final try.

The English team now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this encounter, England had won 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

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 score.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score 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 versus the Italians in March.

However, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

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

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

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

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

Should they win, the substitutes will probably 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)