England Earns 9th Straight Victory Against Physical 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 racked up 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win extends the English team's winning run to nine games and supports their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

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

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Before this match, England had won eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

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

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

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

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as Genge 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 clever set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute the hooker's score.

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

It capped another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

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

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the bench 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)