England Secures Ninth Straight 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

England racked up 4 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

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

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

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

The English team now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this encounter, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most recently taking 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point 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 tight.

After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

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

England broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against Italy in March.

However, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is packed with stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, 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)