England Secures 9th Straight Win Against Tough 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 scored 4 tries after halftime to defeat a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory lengthens the English team's winning run to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

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

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

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, secured the last touchdown.

The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently winning a close contest 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 Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.

Following slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

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

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

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

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is packed with stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, 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)