England Claims 9th Straight Win Over Tough Fijian Side

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 4 tries after halftime to defeat a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.

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

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had won 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

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

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score 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 against Italy in spring.

However, after a smart line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

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

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

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

If successful, the bench will probably 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)