The English Team Claims 9th Straight Win Against Tough 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 racked up four tries after halftime to beat a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.
This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their triumph over Australia last Saturday.
England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an exciting second half.
Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side clear.
Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.
The English team now face New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.
The Fijians Start Fast to Challenge England
Prior to this meeting, England had won 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.
That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.
With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.
After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.
Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.
But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.
The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.
England's Star Bench Shines Once More
The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that included six British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against Italy in spring.
Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out substitute George's try.
Flanker Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the teams.
It topped off another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.
Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.
It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.
Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.
If successful, 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)
