The English Team Secures Ninth Consecutive Win 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
England racked up 4 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.
This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.
England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an exciting final forty minutes.
Replacements George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts clear.
Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.
Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the last touchdown.
Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.
The Fijians Start Fast to Challenge England
Before this encounter, the English team had won 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.
With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be tight.
After slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.
Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.
The English Star Bench Delivers Again
England broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in March.
However, after a smart line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.
With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.
Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the sides.
It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.
Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.
It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Given 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 likely again be crucial.
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
Refereeing Team
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
