The English Team Secures Ninth Straight Victory Over 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 four tries after halftime to overcome a resilient Fijian team in their latest autumn international.
This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.
England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.
Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.
England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.
The English team now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.
The Fijians Begin Strongly to Pressure England
Prior to this encounter, England had won 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.
That one defeat 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 run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.
After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through powerful opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.
The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.
The English Star Bench Delivers Again
England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that included multiple British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against Italy in spring.
However, after a clever line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute George's try.
Flanker Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.
It topped off another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.
Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message next week.
Should they win, the bench will probably again be crucial.
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)
