The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Victory 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
The English squad notched 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.
The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.
The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.
Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an exciting final forty minutes.
Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts clear.
These tries came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the last touchdown.
The English team now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.
The Fijians Start Fast to Pressure England
Prior to this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.
That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.
After 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 driving maul providing a swift reply.
Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.
But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.
England's Impact Substitutes Delivers Again
The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.
A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles versus Italy in March.
Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute the hooker's score.
Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.
It capped another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who picked up back-to-back 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 packed with top players and talent, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.
Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.
Should they win, the substitutes will likely play another key factor.
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)
