The English Team Claims 9th Straight Win Over 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 scored four second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win extends the English team's winning run to nine games and backs up their win over Australia last Saturday.

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

Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

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

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the final try.

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

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

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition 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 likely to be competitive.

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.

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

The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that included six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as the prop went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the substitutes 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)