England Secures Ninth Straight Victory Over Physical Fiji

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 resilient Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine games and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an entertaining second half.

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had won eight of their nine games with Fiji – most recently winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in Europe 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 hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try 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 defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

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

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against Italy in March.

However, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

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

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

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)