The English Team Claims Ninth 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 four tries after halftime to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over Australia last Saturday.

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an entertaining second half.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side clear.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Prior to this meeting, England had won 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss 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 equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, 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 maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

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

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

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate replacement George's try.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

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

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

If successful, 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)