England Claims 9th Consecutive Win Against 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 4 second-half tries to beat a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

This win continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Tevita 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.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an exciting final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.

The English team now play New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, the English team had won 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

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

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

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

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles against Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

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

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

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the bench will probably 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)