The English Team Claims 9th Straight Win Against Tough 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

England racked up four second-half tries to beat a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.

This win continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an thrilling final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now face New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Prior to this meeting, England had won eight of their nine games with Fiji – 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 major turning point under Borthwick.

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

After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with top players and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident 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)