England Earns Ninth Straight Victory Over Tough 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 notched 4 second-half tries to defeat a physical Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory lengthens the English team's winning run to nine games and follows up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an thrilling second half.

Replacements Jamie George and 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 going for the tryline.

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

The English team now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.

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

Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

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 the fly-half to touch down.

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

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

However, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

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

Should they win, the bench will probably 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)