The English Team Earns 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 notched four second-half tries to beat a tough Fijian team in their second fall test match.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin 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 around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Before this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always expected to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads 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 into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that included multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room 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 grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the bench will probably 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)