The English Team Claims 9th Consecutive Win Against Tough Fiji

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 scored four tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and backs up their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

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

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side clear.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking 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 Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.

After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

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

England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their bench 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 strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a clever line-out move was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is full of top players and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

Should they win, the substitutes will likely 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)