The English Team Earns Ninth Straight Victory Against Physical Fiji
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 notched four tries after halftime to overcome a resilient Fijian team in their second fall test match.
The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine matches and supports their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.
The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an exciting second half.
Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side clear.
Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.
England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the last touchdown.
The English team now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.
The Fijians Start Fast to Challenge England
Before this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.
Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be tight.
After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a quick response.
Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.
The winger sharply finished a kick across the field 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.
The English Star Bench Delivers Again
England pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.
A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.
Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate substitute George's try.
Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.
It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.
It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure 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.
If successful, the substitutes will probably again be crucial.
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
Refereeing Team
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
