The English Team Claims 9th Consecutive Win Over Tough Fiji
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 tries after halftime to overcome a tough Fiji side in their latest autumn international.
The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.
The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.
Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an thrilling final forty minutes.
Substitutes George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts clear.
Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.
Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the final try.
The English team now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.
The Fijians Begin Strongly to Challenge England
Before this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.
After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way 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 defense through huge first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.
Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.
England's Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.
However, after a smart line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.
Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the teams.
It capped another all-round impressive display by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.
Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is packed with stars and quality, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.
Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.
Should they win, the bench will likely 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
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
