England Earns 9th Consecutive Win Against Tough 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 scored 4 tries after halftime to defeat a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.

This win lengthens the English team's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an thrilling final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

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

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

The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, 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 tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always expected to be tight.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

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

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

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

It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

Should they win, the substitutes will probably play another key factor.

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)