England Secures 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 notched 4 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.
The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and supports their triumph over Australia last Saturday.
The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an exciting final forty minutes.
Substitutes George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side clear.
Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.
England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the final try.
The English team now play New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.
The Fijians Begin Strongly to Challenge England
Prior to this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently taking 30-24 in the last eight of the last global tournament.
Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.
With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.
Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a quick response.
Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through huge first-half midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.
But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.
The English Impact Substitutes Delivers Again
England pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in spring.
Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including 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 goal line to negate replacement George's try.
Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.
It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.
If successful, the bench 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
Refereeing Team
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
