The English Team Earns Ninth Straight Win Over Tough Fiji

Autumn International 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 notched four tries after halftime to defeat a tough Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

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

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

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

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

The English team now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Before this encounter, England had won 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

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

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

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the substitutes 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)