The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Victory Against Physical Fijian Side

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 four tries after halftime to overcome a tough Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this encounter, England had won 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be tight.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

England pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Australians did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

If successful, the substitutes will probably play another key factor.

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

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)

Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)