The English Team Secures 9th Consecutive Victory Over Tough 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 second-half tries to beat a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an thrilling second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

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

Before this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

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

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did score the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

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)