England Claims Ninth Straight Win Against Tough Fijian Side

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 scored 4 tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

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

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

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

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

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

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

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

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab 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 against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with top players and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident 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)