The English Team Secures 9th Straight Win Over Physical Fijian Side

Quilter Nations 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 tries after halftime to beat a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

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

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the last touchdown.

The English team now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Before this meeting, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

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

The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

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

A much-changed starting lineup 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 suffering his Achilles versus Italy in spring.

However, after a clever line-out move was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

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

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

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

If successful, the substitutes 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)