England Earns 9th Straight Victory Over Physical Fiji

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 four second-half tries to beat a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

This win continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an exciting second half.

Replacements George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side clear.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Before this match, the English team had won 8 of their 9 matches 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 significant shift under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – 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 made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that included six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

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

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of top players and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the bench will likely 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)