The English Team Claims Ninth Straight Win Against 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 beat a physical Fijian team in their latest autumn international.
The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.
The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.
Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an entertaining second half.
Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.
Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.
England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.
Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.
Fiji Begin Strongly to Challenge England
Prior to this encounter, England had claimed victory in eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.
That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.
With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.
After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged 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 huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.
But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.
The winger sharply finished 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 bunker review.
The English Impact Substitutes Delivers Again
England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.
A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in March.
Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom 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 negate substitute the hooker's score.
Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.
It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.
Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.
It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.
Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.
Should they win, the substitutes will likely 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)
