The English Team Claims 9th Consecutive Victory Against Physical 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 racked up 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their second fall test match.

This win extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an exciting final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side clear.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

The English team now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had won eight of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be tight.

After slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through powerful opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.

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

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive display by Earl, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the substitutes will likely 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)