The English Team Earns Ninth Consecutive Win 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

England notched 4 second-half tries to overcome a physical Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win extends the English team's winning run to nine games and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts clear.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Before this meeting, England had won 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

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

After 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 the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with full-back Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick 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 yellow card following a video review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.

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

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.

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

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

The substitute's speed to chase down a kick through showcased 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 lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, 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)