England Secures 9th Straight Victory Against Tough 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

England notched 4 second-half tries to overcome a physical Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and follows up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.

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

Before this match, the English team had won eight of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 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 the head coach.

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

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score 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 first-half midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.

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

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

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

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

If successful, the bench 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)