The English Team Secures Ninth Consecutive Win Against Physical 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 racked up 4 tries after halftime to beat a physical Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win lengthens the English team's winning run to nine games and follows up their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

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

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now play New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, England had won 8 of their 9 matches 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 tournament in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

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

England broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in March.

However, after a smart line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

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

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the bench 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)