The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Win Against Physical Fijian Side

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 notched 4 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and backs up their win over Australia last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an exciting final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

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

Before this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

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

Feyi-Waboso 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 Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning 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 included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Australians did score the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

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

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

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message next week.

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)