The English Team Secures Ninth Consecutive Victory Against Tough 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 notched 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an thrilling second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side clear.

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.

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

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

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that included six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles against Italy in March.

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

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate replacement George's try.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

Should they win, the bench 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)