The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Victory Against Physical Fiji

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 tries after halftime to beat a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

These tries came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.

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

Prior to this meeting, England had won 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before 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 game was always expected to be competitive.

After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

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

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

England pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Australians 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 tendon versus Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message 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)