The English Team Claims 9th Straight Victory 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 racked up 4 tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fijian team in their second autumn international.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

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

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this fall.

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

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

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

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies 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 versus the Italians in March.

However, after a smart line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement 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)