The English Team Secures 9th Consecutive Win Against Physical Fiji

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 4 tries after halftime to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph 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 Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an entertaining second half.

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.

The English team now play New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Prior to this match, England had won 8 of their nine 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 competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

After slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through huge first-half midfield hits, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

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 Muntz to touch down.

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

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that included six British and Irish Lions.

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

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

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

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

If successful, the substitutes 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)