England Earns Ninth Consecutive Win Against 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 racked up 4 second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fijian team in their second fall test match.

The victory lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to spark an entertaining second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

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

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always expected to be tight.

Following slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out 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 power of their bench that included six Lions tourists.

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

However, 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 Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, 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 influential.

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the substitutes will likely 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)