The English Team Claims 9th Straight Victory Over Tough 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

England scored 4 tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an thrilling second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this match, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be competitive.

After slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

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

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

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

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.

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

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement 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)