The English Team Secures Ninth Consecutive Victory Against Tough Fiji

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 notched 4 second-half tries to beat a resilient Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

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

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

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

Before this encounter, England had won eight of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

After slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England 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 pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in spring.

However, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

Flanker Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, 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)