The English Team Claims Ninth Straight 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

England notched 4 tries after halftime to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine games and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Arundell, who displayed 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 attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

After slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

England pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

However, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through showcased 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 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 next week.

If successful, the bench 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)