England Claims 9th Consecutive Victory Against 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

The English squad scored four second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and follows up their win over Australia last Saturday.

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

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side clear.

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

Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

The English team now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Prior to this match, the English team had won eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by 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.

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that contained six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

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

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

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)