The English Team Secures Ninth Straight Victory Over Tough Fiji

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 tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the last touchdown.

The English team now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, England had won eight of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the game was always expected to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

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

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

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

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon against Italy in March.

However, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

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

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

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

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

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

Should they win, the bench will likely 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)