England Earns Ninth Consecutive Victory 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

The English squad racked up 4 second-half tries to beat a physical Fiji side in their second fall test match.

The victory continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper 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 won eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through powerful first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

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

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

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

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

Should they win, the substitutes 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)