England Earns Ninth Straight Victory Against 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

England notched four second-half tries to beat a tough Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and follows up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Before this encounter, England had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

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

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.

England pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against Italy in spring.

However, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

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

If successful, the bench 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)