England posted a ninth successive win as they ran in six tries to beat Fiji 38-18 at Twickenham on Saturday.

The game was in the balance when England led 21-18 heading into the final quarter.

But, as was the case during England's 25-7 Autumn Nations opening win over Australia at Twickenham last weekend, their bench, notably the 'bomb squad' of replacement forwards, had a decisive impact.

England ended a hard-fought first-half just 14-13 ahead thanks to tries from Luke Cowan-Dickie and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, both converted by Fin Smith.

Fiji scored tries through skipper Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz, neither of which Muntz converted, although the fly-half did land a penalty.

England added four more tries after the break through co-captain Ellis Genge and replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, with regular skipper Maro Itoje coming off the bench to wrap things up five minutes from time.

But with England leading 26-18 in the 63rd minute, Fiji scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli had a try between the posts disallowed for a knock-on.

"It was one of the hardest games of rugby I have had to play," England No 8 Ben Earl, man-of-the-match for the second game in a row, told TNT Sports. "They (Fiji) have world-class players across the pitch."

Fiji coach Mick Byrne was left thinking of what might have been.

"It would have been nice to have got that try awarded under the posts," he said.

But the Australian added: "England have changed their finishing powers over the last couple of years.

"And I think they've scored more points in their last quarter than any other quarter of the game. So, full credit to them."

It took England just seven minutes to open the scoring when hooker Cowan-Dickie forced his way over following several close-range drives.

Fin Smith, preferred at fly-half to George Ford in one of several changes made by England coach Steve Borthwick, landed the conversion.

But it took Fiji, who won 30-22 on their last visit to Twickenham two years ago before suffering an agonising 30-24 World Cup quarter-final loss to England two months later, four minutes to hit back as Ikanivere dived over for a try following a close-range maul.

Muntz couldn't convert but then finished a fine move with a 23rd-minute try.

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Fiji fly-half Caleb Muntz (C) celebrates with team-mates after scoring a try against England at Twickenham / © AFP

Josua Tuisova's dynamic initial burst launched a Fiji attack which ended with Muntz getting on the end of Kuruvoli's chip-kick over the defence.

Muntz missed another conversion but did land a 27-metre penalty.

- Ravutaumada yellow card -

Fiji were reduced to 14 men in the 35th minute when Selestino Ravutaumada was yellow-carded for taking out opposing wing Feyi-Waboso in the air.

England made their man advantage count when, following Fin Smith's excellent cross-kick, Feyi-Waboso collected the ball on the bounce and beat two covering Fiji defenders for a try in the left corner.

Fin Smith converted and England led by a point at half-time.

But they went further ahead in the 49th minute.

England centre Ollie Lawrence burst clear to get to the brink of the Fiji try-line and while scrum-half Alex Mitchell was denied, there was no stopping prop forward Genge.

Fiji hit back again when a quick give and go line-out move led to Ikanivere's second try only for Muntz to miss yet another conversion.

Borthwick sent on a raft of replacements, including an all new front row, before Fiji were reduced to 14 men again after Tuisova was yellow-carded.

England had another try just after the hour mark when replacement hooker George went over from a driving maul. Fin Smith missed his first conversion of the match but England led by eight points at 26-18.

Fiji thought they had cut the deficit in a see-saw match yet again when Kuruvoli rounded off a fine team move only for his try to be disallowed for a knock-on before he grounded the ball over the line.

Bath wing Arundell, making his first England appearance since the 2023 World Cup, demonstrated his searing pace as he chased down Marcus Smith's kick ahead before Itoje, following a quick tap penalty, powered over from close range.