England Claims 9th Consecutive Victory Against Tough 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

England scored four second-half tries to overcome a physical Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an exciting second half.

Replacements George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through huge opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that included multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory 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 against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

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

It capped another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is packed with top players and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the bench will likely 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)