England Secures Ninth Straight Win 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 beat a resilient Fijian team in their latest autumn international.
The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine games and backs up their win over Australia the previous weekend.
England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.
Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an exciting final forty minutes.
Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.
These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.
The English team now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.
Fiji Start Fast to Challenge England
Prior to this match, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the last global tournament.
That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.
With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be tight.
Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.
But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.
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 given a yellow card following a video review.
England's Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included six Lions tourists.
A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in spring.
However, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.
Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.
It capped another all-round impressive display by Earl, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.
It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.
Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.
If successful, 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)