The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Victory Over 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

The English squad racked up four second-half tries to beat a tough Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and supports their win over Australia the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts clear.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.

The English team now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Before this meeting, England had won eight of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately winning a close contest 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 the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since the late nineties – the fixture was always expected to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through huge opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

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

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that included six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It topped off 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 kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

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

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

Should they win, the bench 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)