England Secures 9th 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
The English squad scored four second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fijian team in their second fall test match.
The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.
The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an entertaining second half.
Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.
These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.
England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the last touchdown.
Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.
The Fijians Start Fast to Challenge The English
Prior to this encounter, the English team had won 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.
With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.
After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.
Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through huge first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.
Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.
The English Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did score the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.
Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded five of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.
With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate replacement George's try.
Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.
It capped another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.
The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is packed with top players and talent, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.
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)
