England 54-12 Fiji: Sharples Double Kick-Starts Autumn Series

England (25) 54

Try: Sharples 2, penalty, Monye, Johnson, Tuilagi 2

Pens: Flood 3

Conversions: Flood 4, Farrell

Fiji (0) 12

Try: Matawalu, Kalou

Pens:

Conversions: Matavesi

Stuart Lancaster claimed his first win as permanent England coach as his side begun their Autumn international series with a comfortable win over Fiji at Twickenham.

After a stuttering start, which included a yellow card for Danny Care, Charlie Sharples went over before a penalty try, Ugo Monye and three Toby Flood penalties gave England some breathing space at half time

Tom Johnson and Sharples added further tries, before Manu Tuilagi twice burst through, either side of scores from Fiji's Nikola Matawalu and replacement Seko Kalou as England continued their 100% run against the Pacific Islanderers.

Lancaster was forced into making five changes from the draw with South Africa in Port Elizabeth in June, with captain Chris Robshaw, Brad Barritt, Monye, Sharples and debutant Tom Youngs all brought in.

With injuries to Northampton trio Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Ben Foden and suspension to Chris Ashton, Lancaster was forced to name a line up of which just four players had more than 13 test caps for the first of a four-match Autumn international series which would dictate England's seeding ahead of December's World Cup 2015 group stage draw.

Fiji, themselves hit by injury and led by Inoke Male, who featured in the last meeting between the two sides in 1999, were seeking their first win against northern hemisphere opposition since overcoming Wales in the 2007 World Cup.

The hosts gave away on average a kilogram per forward in the scrum, and that physical dominance appeared to be paying dividends for Fiji in the opening exchanges with Metuisela Talebula guilty of fluffing an opportunity to it the front with a lackluster penalty.

But England were unable to capitalise and Danny Care was sin binned for a tip tackle on Leone Nakarawa as the early frustrated spilled over, but the Southern Islanders continues to scupper opportunities to take advantage as the radar of Talebula's was again slightly askew.

And either side of Care being restored to the team England notched their first two scores of the Autumn, with Flood successful with a penalty, and Sharples going over for the first try after stepping inside off his right wing.

The visitors' error count was starting to ramp up, and Flood took full advantage, ticking over the 250-point mark for his country in converting his second penalty, while Deacon Manu's yellow card gave was further evidence of the turn in fortunes from the opening quarter.

The man advantage provided a host of offensive options and England really should have added a second try but Joe Marler's pass evaded Barritt in the corner.

With skipper Manu off the field, England nullified the Fijians, and further indiscipline saw referee Glen Jackson award a penalty try.

Sharples saw a third try chalked off by the video referee in the twilight of the first half after the Gloucester wing's brilliant kick-through was adjudged to have caught the line, but England's dominance was again there fore all to see as Monye went over in the final act of the first 40 minutes.

Andy Farrell had demanded England show a greater amount of invention in attack and early in the second half after Flood had added a third penalty, Danny Care was almost the benefit of England speed in the hands and at the breakdown, before Danny Cole went over, before the ball was deemed to have been held up.

But when Alex Goode fed Robshaw, who found Johnson, the flanker made no mistake for his first international score on just his fourth appearance.

A rare second half foray into the England half saw Fiji earn their fist score as Matawalu kicked his way through to score, before Sharples grabbed his second, while a spate of changes for both sides saw the Youngs brothers became the tenth pair of siblings to play for England.

The weary Fiji defence were powerless to prevent Tuilagi scoring England's sixth try in the corner much to the delight of the home crowd as Lancaster's side showed off their attacking attributes.

The Samoan born centre helped England beak the 50-point barrier, before Kalou salvaged a late consolation in the final minute as England started their Autumn schedule with a comfortable victory, in the knowledge that tougher tests, in the form of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, are to come.

Line ups:

England: A Goode; C Sharples, M Tuilagi, B Barritt, U Monye; T Flood, D Care; J Marler, T Youngs, D Cole, T Palmer, G Parling, T Johnson, C Robshaw (capt), T Waldrom.

Replacements: D Paice (for T Youngs 65), D Wilson (for D Wilson 60), M Vunipola (for J Marler 52), J Launchbury (for T. Palmer) 57), T Wood (60 T Johnson 60), B Youngs (for D.Care 60), O Farrell (for A Goode 60), M Brown (for M Brown 60).

Fiji: S Koniferedi; S Wara; V Goneva; S Naqelevuki; W Votu; M Talebula; N Matawalu; B Makutu; V Veikoso; D Manu (capt); L Nakarawa; A Ratuniyarawa; A Naikatini; M Ravulo; A Qera.

Replacements: S Naurere (for V Veikoso 52); S Somoca (for B Makutu 46); M Saulo (for D Manu 69); S Kalou (for A Ratuniyarawa 71); I Ratuva (for A Naikatini 57); K Bola (for W Votu 75); J Matavesi (for A Quer 46) R Fatiaki (for S Wara 62);