The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Victory Against Tough 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

The English squad racked up 4 tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.

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

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

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an entertaining second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

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

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.

The English team now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be hard-fought.

Following slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through powerful opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

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 score.

The winger 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 given a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate substitute the hooker's score.

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

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

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

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, 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)