The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Win Over 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 tries after halftime to beat a tough Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

The victory continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an exciting second half.

Replacements George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, 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 came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

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

Prior to this meeting, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with Fiji – most recently winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

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

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

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

England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus Italy in spring.

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

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

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

It capped another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side 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)