The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Win Against Physical 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

England scored four second-half tries to overcome a resilient Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

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

Replacements George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the last touchdown.

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

Before this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

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

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be hard-fought.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage 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 touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected 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 awarded a yellow card following a video review.

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

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus Italy in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists 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 cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

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

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

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

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message 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)