England Secures 9th Consecutive Victory Over Tough Fijian Side

Quilter Nations 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 notched 4 tries after halftime to beat a physical Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and follows up their win over Australia last Saturday.

England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had won eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be tight.

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

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

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 Muntz to score.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon against Italy in March.

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

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

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message 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)