England Claims 9th Straight Victory Against Physical Fiji

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 tries after halftime to beat a physical Fijian team in their second autumn international.

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

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

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

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

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

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

The English team now face New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Before this meeting, England had won eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

Following slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads 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 ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus Italy in March.

However, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with stars and talent, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement 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)