The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Win Over 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 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fiji side in their second fall test match.
The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine matches and follows up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.
England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.
Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an exciting second half.
Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.
England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the final try.
The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.
Fiji Start Fast to Pressure The English
Before this match, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most recently taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.
With Fiji on a five-game streak – 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 forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.
Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.
England's Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
England broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus Italy in spring.
Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.
Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.
It capped another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.
It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.
Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.
If successful, the bench 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)
