England Earns Ninth Straight Win 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 four second-half tries to overcome a physical Fijian team in their latest autumn international.
This win lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.
England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.
Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.
Substitutes George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts 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 next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.
The Fijians Start Fast to Challenge The English
Prior to this meeting, the English team had won 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.
Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.
With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be competitive.
After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.
Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through huge opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.
But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.
The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.
The English Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
England pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that included multiple British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against Italy in March.
Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.
Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.
It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.
The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is full of top players and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.
Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.
If successful, 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
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
