England Earns 9th Straight Win Over Physical Fijian Side

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

The English squad racked up 4 second-half tries to beat a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine games and supports their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

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

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had won eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently taking 30-24 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 the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders 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, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

England pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

However, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

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 helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the bench will likely 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)