England Claims 9th Straight Victory Against 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 scored four tries after halftime to overcome a tough Fijian team in their second fall test match.

The victory lengthens the English team's winning run to nine games and follows up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

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

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

Those scores 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, scored the last touchdown.

The English team now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Before this encounter, England had claimed victory in eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since the late nineties – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by 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 pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in March.

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

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the substitutes will likely 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)