England Earns 9th Straight Victory Over Physical 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
England notched four tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.
This win extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.
England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an exciting second half.
Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.
Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.
Fiji Start Fast to Pressure The English
Before this match, the English team had won eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always expected to be tight.
Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a quick response.
Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used 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 cut England's defence open for the fly-half 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.
England's Star Bench Shines Once More
England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained six Lions tourists.
A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against Italy in March.
However, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.
Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the sides.
It capped 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 full of stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.
Should they win, the substitutes will probably 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
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
