🔗 Share this article England Claims 9th Consecutive Win Against 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 scored four tries after halftime to beat a tough Fiji side in their second fall test match. The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over Australia the previous weekend. The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz. Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored. Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an exciting second half. Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead. These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score. England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try. Borthwick's side now play New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall. Fiji Start Fast to Challenge The English Before this meeting, England had won eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the last global tournament. That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick. With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be tight. After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a swift reply. Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted. But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score. The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review. The English Star Bench Shines Once More The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that included multiple British and Irish Lions. A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against the Italians in spring. However, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry. With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score. Flanker Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides. It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors. The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful. It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn. Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message 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)