The English Team Secures 9th Straight Victory Over Physical 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 racked up four tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fijian team in their second fall test match.

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

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements George and 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 spilling the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, England had won eight of their nine games with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

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

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

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

England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.

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

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the bench will probably 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)