England Secures 9th Consecutive 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

England scored 4 tries after halftime to overcome a physical Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an thrilling second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side clear.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had won 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best run since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through huge first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

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

England pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as the prop went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles versus Italy in March.

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

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is packed with stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.

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)