Hang out the bunting, England have won a Test. Steve Borthwick’s national team ended their run of five successive defeats with a thumping demolition of out-classed Japan.
In the process, they wrecked Eddie Jones’s return to Twickenham, which will have gone down well with the RFU hierarchy. The Australian was back in the guise of pantomime villain, after revelations in Danny Care’s autobiography about a toxic, ‘bullying’ culture during his seven-year reign here, but the only bullying yesterday was inflicted on his side by the dominant hosts.
This was a routine, predictable result. In time, Jones may turn Japan into a force again but at the moment, that is a distant prospect. So, all England could do was beat the limited opposition in front of them and they did that comfortably, to end an agonising Autumn Nations Series campaign on a positive note.
The stark fact is that this was a somewhat hollow victory, over a country currently down in 13th-place in the World Rugby rankings. It was an entertaining, nine-try spectacle for the full house in south west London, but it will not serve to erase the frustrations of the preceding weeks.
England’s month at home yielded this solitary win, after three successive defeats; against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Having also lost twice to the All Blacks on their summer tour, Borthwick’s men were in a rut, so at least this was a welcome boost.
In isolation, it was pleasing enough, especially as there was a debut for Asher Opoku-Fordjour and a first Test try for Tom Roebuck. But there will be no wild euphoria in the Red Rose camp. They will be well aware that running riot against Japan won’t count for much when they reconvene to prepare for their next assignment; a daunting Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.
England capped off the Autumn Nations series by ending their five-game losing slump
Japan, 13th-place in the World Rugby rankings, only managed to score twice against England
Steve Borthwick’s side next face Ireland in February 2025 for their Six Nations opener in Dublin
What they have done is earn some respite and breathing space. Borthwick can gather his players together again in January with some up-beat memories to seize upon. The quest will be to ensure 2025 is a damn sight better than 2024, which yielded just five victories in 12 Tests. That is a long way below expectations.
In wet and wild conditions, Japan enjoyed the early ascendancy – interrupting England’s habit of making fast starts – and they had a chance to go ahead in the fifth minute. Having earned a penalty near halfway, captain Naoto Saito lined up a long-range shot at goal but his attempt flew wide.
There were some uncomfortable English lapses in the opening exchanges; a few misplaced passes, a free-kick conceded at the first scrum and that penalty against a bemused, irritated Ben Earl. Then, the narrow home defence was so nearly exposed by a daring Japanese attack, but as the ball reached Jone Naikabula in space, he sliced an attempted kick ahead into touch.
In the ninth minute, England’s attack clicked and they took the lead. Marcus Smith’s no-look pass sent Ollie Lawrence hurtling clear in midfield and he released Earl, who accelerated clear to score between the posts. Smith converted. The procession had begun.
Four minutes later, Lawrence made another telling run into the visitors’ 22 and Jamie George blasted on, right up to the line. Japan clung on but conceded a penalty in the process. From the resulting lineout, the home pack drove well and Sam Underhill broke off to force his way over and stretch to touch down. It was the flanker’s last act, as he was helped off – as Smith converted again – to be replaced by Chandler Cunningham-South.
England’s forwards were able to exert such dominance over their opponents that it was inevitable that more tries would soon follow. Sure enough, in the 23rd minute, a penalty was brilliantly kicked to touch in the left corner by Smith, the lineout routine worked smoothly and the pack mauled over the line for George to score. Another conversion on target; 21-0. Plain sailing. No jeopardy this time.
Tommy Freeman leapt over in the right corner soon afterwards, to round off a raid ignited by a dazzling break by Smith, but replays highlighted a knock-on by Jack van Poortvliet in the build-up. No matter. Nine minutes before half-time, England won a scrum penalty with an emphatic shove and from another lineout drive – this time on the right – George struck again. Smith added the extras again. It was 28-0. The crowd were dancing and singing in the rain.
Then came a bolt from the blue. Japan hit back, in some style. Counter-attacking at pace from deep in their own half, the Brave Blossoms worked the ball right to Dylan Riley who stormed away and drew the last defender before sending Saito away to the line. It was a blistering, eye-catching effort which was deservedly acclaimed by the crowd, before the skipper converted his own try.
It took just nine minutes for England’s attack to click and establish an early lead over Japan
The visitors could not score until England led 28-0, with Dylan Riley logging Japan’s first try
Normal service was soon resumed, as England had the last word before half-time. Lawrence danced into space after an attack faltered, Will Stuart trundled through a gap and sent a glorious pass out to Cunningham-South. The flanker in turn released Ollie Sleightholme and he produced a sharp finish from a deft kick ahead. Smith was on target from the tee again and the hosts went in 35-7 ahead.
After the break, Japan threw the kitchen sink at England, no doubt with some choice words from Jones ringing in their ears. They played with pace and tenacity, invention and ferocity, and should have had a try to show for it, but wing Tomoki Osada failed to pick out team-mates with a clear run to the line, when he broke clear on the right.
Eventually, England regained the upper hand and duly struck again. A loose lineout from the visitors presented an opening and from Luke Cowan-Dickie’s pass, Henry Slade kicked low to the right corner, Freeman won the race to the ball and delivered a stunning, behind-the-back pass to George Furbank who went over. Smiles among the players on the pitch and the bench attested to the sublime skill demonstrated by Northampton wing Freeman with the box-office assist.
If in doubt, England could always revert to the route-one approach to reinforce their command and they did so again on the hour. A penalty was sent to the left corner, for a lineout catch and drive, and a try for the hooker – this time, Cowan-Dickie. The ploy was proving effective, so it made sense to keep utilising it, especially in the tricky conditions.
Japan needed different ploys. They needed to play with tempo and when they managed to next managed to put together a rapid move, it paid off. Saito raced into the 22 but Smith – relocated to full-back – did well to stop him, but the visitors kept coming and flanker Kazuki Himeno latched on to an off-load to finish with a flourish. Takura Matsunaga converted.
The pendulum swung again in an increasingly open contest. First, Roebuck came close to his maiden England try on the right but was brought down just short of the line, before a series of drives ended with Cowan-Dickie touching down again. Then a Fin Smith kick-pass presented Roebuck with another chance and this time he would not be denied; going over for a superb try after a hand-off and swerve to flummox the last two Japanese defenders.
Smith took his conversion tally to seven. He was happy afterwards. After all the near-misses, at least this was a step in the right direction.
