The English Team Claims 9th Straight Victory Over Physical 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 tries after halftime to overcome a physical Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

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

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side clear.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine games 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 Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be tight.

Following slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie 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 first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

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

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that included multiple British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as the prop went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

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

Flanker Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the teams.

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

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

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

If successful, the bench will probably 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)