The English Team Claims 9th Consecutive 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
England racked up 4 tries after halftime to beat a tough Fijian team in their second fall test match.
The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over Australia the previous weekend.
England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an entertaining second half.
Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.
England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.
The English team now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this autumn.
The Fijians Start Fast to Pressure The English
Prior to this meeting, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.
After slick phase play, back rower Chandler 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 driving maul providing a quick response.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.
But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.
The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.
England's Impact Substitutes Delivers Again
The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.
However, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute the hooker's score.
Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.
It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
The substitute's speed to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.
It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.
Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.
Should they win, the bench will probably 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)