England Secures Ninth Straight Win Over 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 scored four tries after halftime to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

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

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

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

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

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Before this meeting, England had won eight of their nine matches with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

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

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

England pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

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

However, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the substitutes will likely 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)