England Earns Ninth Straight 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 notched 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.
The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine games and supports their win over Australia the previous weekend.
England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.
Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an entertaining second half.
Substitutes George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.
These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the last touchdown.
Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.
The Fijians Begin Strongly to Challenge England
Before this match, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.
That one defeat came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.
After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.
The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.
England's Star Bench Delivers Again
The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.
Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.
Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.
It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.
It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.
Should they win, the bench will likely play another key factor.
Team Sheets
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)
