England Claims Ninth Consecutive Win Over 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 racked up four second-half tries to defeat a physical Fijian team in their second fall test match.

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

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had won eight of their 9 games 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 Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be hard-fought.

After slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that included six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

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

Should they win, the bench 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)