The English Team 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

The English squad racked up 4 tries after halftime to beat a tough Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.

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

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to spark an thrilling second half.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.

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

England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the last touchdown.

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

Prior to this meeting, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.

After slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the first try from close range, 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 defense through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

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

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

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

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

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the substitutes will probably 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)