England Earns Ninth Consecutive Victory Over Physical Fijian Side
Quilter Nations 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 resilient Fiji side in their latest autumn international.
The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and backs up their win over Australia 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 the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an entertaining second half.
Substitutes George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.
England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.
The English team now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.
The Fijians Start Fast to Challenge England
Before this match, England had claimed victory in eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking 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 significant shift under Borthwick.
With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be competitive.
After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.
The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.
The English Star Bench Shines Once More
The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that included six Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus Italy in spring.
However, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.
With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate replacement George's try.
Flanker Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.
It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.
The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.
If successful, the substitutes 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)
