England Earns 9th Straight Win 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 beat a physical Fiji side in their second fall test match.

The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine games and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an thrilling second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, England had claimed victory in eight of their nine matches with Fiji – most recently taking a close contest 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 Borthwick.

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

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular 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 Muntz to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles versus the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate substitute George's try.

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

It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

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

Should they win, the substitutes 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)