The English Team Secures 9th Straight Victory 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 scored 4 tries after halftime to beat a tough Fiji side in their second autumn international.
The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine games and backs up their win over Australia last Saturday.
The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.
Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.
Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining second half.
Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.
These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.
Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.
The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.
Fiji Begin Strongly to Pressure England
Before this match, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.
That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be tight.
After slick phase play, back rower Chandler 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 driving maul providing a swift reply.
Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through powerful first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.
But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.
The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.
The English Impact Substitutes Delivers Again
England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus the Italians in March.
However, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.
With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.
Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.
It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is packed with top players and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.
Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.
If successful, the bench will probably play another key factor.
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
Refereeing Team
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
