The English Team Secures Ninth Consecutive Win 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 notched 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

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

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.

The English team now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Before this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most recently winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since the late nineties – the game was always likely 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 maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

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)