The English Team Claims 9th Consecutive 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

England notched 4 tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an entertaining second half.

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

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

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.

The English team now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, England had won eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

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

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

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino 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 power of their bench that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

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

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

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

It capped another all-round impressive display by Earl, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, 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)