England Earns 9th Consecutive Victory Over Physical Fiji

Autumn International 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 4 tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine matches and follows up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an thrilling final forty minutes.

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

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the last touchdown.

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

Prior to this meeting, England had won eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently taking 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage 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 score.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

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

However, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall display 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 influential.

It is packed with stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

If successful, the substitutes 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)