The English Team Claims 9th Straight Victory Over Tough 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 four second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.
This win extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over Australia last Saturday.
The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an exciting second half.
Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.
Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.
Fiji Begin Strongly to Challenge England
Before this match, England had won 8 of their nine 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 tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.
With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.
After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.
Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.
But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.
England's Impact Substitutes Delivers Again
England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.
A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in March.
Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.
Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.
It topped off another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.
The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.
It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.
Should they win, the substitutes will probably again be crucial.
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)
