England Secures Ninth Consecutive Win Over Tough 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 notched four second-half tries to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.

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

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

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

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side clear.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

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

Prior to this meeting, England had claimed victory in eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

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

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker 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.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England 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 last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.

However, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the substitutes 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)