England Earns Ninth Consecutive Win Against Physical 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

England racked up four tries after halftime to beat a tough Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

This win extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over Australia last Saturday.

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

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the last touchdown.

The English team now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Before this meeting, England had won eight of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

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

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through powerful opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against Italy in March.

However, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and 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 George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

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

Should they win, the bench will likely 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)