The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Victory 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 four second-half tries to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

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

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

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

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

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

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

Before this match, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

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

Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through huge opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

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 tendon versus Italy in March.

However, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

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

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

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

If successful, the bench 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)