The English Team Claims Ninth Straight Victory Against Physical 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

England racked up four tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fijian team in their second autumn international.

This win extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

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

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the final try.

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

After slick phase play, back rower 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 providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles versus Italy in March.

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

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

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

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

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

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

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)