The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Win Against Physical 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

The English squad scored four tries after halftime to beat a physical Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

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

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an exciting second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts clear.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Before this encounter, the English team had won eight of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 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 the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be tight.

Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

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

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair 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 sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength 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 powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

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

It capped another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is full of top players and talent, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

Should they win, 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)