The English Team Earns Ninth Straight Win 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

The English squad notched four second-half tries to overcome a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

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

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

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

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

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

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

Prior to this match, England had won 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately 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 game was always expected to be competitive.

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

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli 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 keep breathing room between the teams.

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

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is full of stars and quality, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

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

If successful, the bench 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)