England Claims Ninth Consecutive Win Against Physical Fiji

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 racked up four tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the last touchdown.

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

Before this encounter, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

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

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters 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 providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular 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.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

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

It capped another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the substitutes will probably 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)