The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Win Against Tough Fiji
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 racked up 4 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.
This win lengthens the English team's winning run to nine matches and follows up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.
England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an entertaining second half.
Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.
These tries came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.
England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the last touchdown.
The English team now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.
Fiji Start Fast to Pressure The English
Prior to this encounter, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.
With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be tight.
Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.
But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.
The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.
England's Star Bench Shines Once More
England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as Genge went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.
However, after a smart line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement George's try.
Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.
It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.
The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.
Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.
If successful, the bench will probably play another key factor.
Line-ups
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
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
