England Secures 9th Straight Win Over Tough 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

The English squad notched four second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an exciting second half.

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side clear.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had won 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be hard-fought.

Following slick phase play, back rower 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 driving maul providing a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare 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 dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed 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 returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

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

It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

If successful, 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)