The English Team Claims 9th Consecutive Win Against 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 scored 4 second-half tries to beat a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

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

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to spark an entertaining second half.

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

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

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

Before this encounter, the English team had won eight of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately taking 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 major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

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

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.

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

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

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

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of stars and quality, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the substitutes will probably 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)