Japan vs England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Marcus Smith inspires big win in Tokyo
Japan 17-52 England: Marcus Smith and Henry Slade pulled the strings as the visitors ran in eight tries
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Your support makes all the difference.England kicked off their summer tour with an eight-try thrashing of Japan in Tokyo as they tuned up for two Tests against the All Blacks.
Steve Borthwick’s side head south for a two-Test tour of New Zealand at the start of July, and the England head coach will have been pleased with how his side accelerated away after a sticky start on a hot and humid afternoon. After holding firm defensively despite a fast Japanese start, Marcus Smith and Henry Slade pulled the strings nicely at the Japan National Stadium as England showed off their attacking array to take control of the contest.
Four first-half tries were followed by scores after interval from Alex Mitchell, Ben Earl, Harry Randall and Sam Underhill, though England’s win was somewhat marred by the sending off of Charlie Ewels late on. The lock was making his first international appearance since being red carded at Twickenham against Ireland during the 2022 Six Nations but flew in dangerously on Japan captain Michael Leitch at a ruck to potentially end his tour.
The Ewels incident came amid Japan’s brightest spell as lock Warner Dearns created two excellent tries, but it is England who emerged as sizeable winners to take confidence into their first clash with the All Blacks in a fortnight.
Re-live all of the action from the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo below:
Japan 3-38 England, 56 minutes
Ah, disappointing! Japan throw a five-metre lineout and begin to assemble the heavy mob for a shove to the line, but inaccurate handling in the transfer down sees the ball spilled.
A frustrating day so far for Eddie Jones’ young side.
YELLOW CARD! Marcus Smith is sent to the sin bin! Japan 3-38 England, 46 minutes
Well well well. I think England are fortunate: Marcus Smith is sent to the sin bin, but there’s no penalty try with the officials deeming that Dan Cole (37, tighthead prop) might have caught Yoshitaka Yazaki (20, full-back) from several metres away. Yazaki had all of six metres to cover if he’d not been held back by Smith.
Still, England down to 14 for the next wee while. Can Japan pounce?
Penalty try?
Yes, Marcus Smith has a hold of Yoshitaka Yazaki long before the full-back has the ball. It’ll be a yellow card at least...
Japan 3-38 England, 54 minutes
Japan rally, and the crowd lift the volume. Michael Leitch’s every involvement draws a roar. England haul the hosts down just short of the line - was the tackle from Marcus Smith early? TMO Eric Gauzins calls down to the referee to saunter up to the screen for a gander...
Japan 3-38 England, 52 minutes
A double switch for England, with both replacements back after a while away - Harry Randall returns to full international colours after a couple of years out of the picture, while Tom Curry has made a remarkable recovery from a major hip surgery after the World Cup to make it on tour. The Sale flanker played fewer than 40 minutes of the domestic season - can he work up to speed here ahead of the two Tests against the All Blacks to come?
TRY! Japan 3-38 ENGLAND (Ben Earl try, 50 minutes)
Ben Earl goes in untouched!
England are enjoying themselves here with Japan’s intensity starting to fade. Alex Mitchell again threatens the fringes and has the dexterity to reach over the top of a couple of defenders in contact, dropping a parcel over the fence that Earl gathers to ground.
Japan 3-33 England, 48 minutes
Theo Dan is out there at hooker for England, too, using that burst of pace he possesses to cause problems in the Japan 22. Dan Cole doesn’t have that, but does have plenty of size...is it enough to get to the line? Not quite, held up.
Back for a penalty. Dan will throw a lineout five metres out.
Japan 3-33 England, 46 minutes
Sam Underhill wins a breakdown penalty with a textbook jackal technique.
Changes at prop for both sides, with the replacements vastly different in the experience stakes. Near-centurion Joe Marler is on at loosehead for England; debutant Keijiro Tamefusa replaces Shuhei Takeuchi at tighthead for Japan.
TRY! Japan 3-33 ENGLAND (Alex Mitchell try, 43 minutes)
Now Alex Mitchell gets his try!
England’s carriers win the gainline and create soft patches around the ruck that the scrum half can explore. A dummy and a dart leave three Japan defenders grasping at one another as Mitchell hustles between them for a sharp sniping score. Marcus Smith converts.
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