The English Team Secures Ninth Consecutive Win 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

England scored 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine matches and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had won 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful first-half midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

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

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

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances 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)