England v Japan LIVE: Rugby World Cup result and reaction after ludicrous try off Joe Marler’s head
England 34-12 Japan: Joe Marler’s accidental headed assist for Courtney Lawes’ try was the highlight of an error-strewn performance by England
England toiled at times but profited from a bizarre second-half try to defeat Japan 34-12 at the Stade de Nice and earn a bonus point in an unimpressive display that nonetheless leaves them in control of their Rugby World Cup Pool D.
With the game poised at 13-12, England captain Courtney Lawes cantered in for a try as the Japanese players stopped and watched, expecting to hear the referee’s whistle for a knock-on when the ball in fact deflected off the head of prop Joe Marler.
That turned the tide of the contest as England ran in four tries in all, No 8 Lewis Ludlam barging over in the first half before full back Freddie Steward crossed in the corner and centre Joe Marchant grabbed the bonus point with the final play of the game.
Before that England’s attack looked blunt as they battled to hold onto the ball and kicked away possession from promising attacking areas, but were let off the hook by a Japan side that did not have the quality to punish them.
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Kick-off moments away
The players are out of the tunnel and onto the grass in Nice. Time for the anthems...
Harry Latham-Coyle at the Stade de Nice
The Independent’s Harry Latham-Coyle is in Nice for tonight’s big fixture. He sends this in ahead of kick-off:
“A pretty energetic warm-up from England, with an active scrummaging session and a bit of goalline defensive work. There were fittingly floods of England fans on the Promenade des Anglais earlier - and judging by the roars for each member of England's line-up as they announced on the public address system, most have made it in."
Brilliant Fiji blow Rugby World Cup wide open with first win over Australia for 69 years
Earlier in the day, Fiji made a huge statement at the Rugby World Cup with their first win over Australia for 69 years, a thoroughly deserved 22-15 victory that blew Pool C wide open and left the twice world champion Wallabies shellshocked.
Denied a likely victory over Wales in their opener by a dropped pass, Fiji overpowered the Australians with direct running, explosive tackling and 11 turnovers.
Barring those in green and gold, a packed house at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard cheered each Fiji attack and every single one of the 18 penalties awarded against the Australians.
A try from centre Josua Tuisova and five penalties did the damage on the scoreboard and the Fijians backed their steely defence to keep the desperate Wallabies out in a dramatic last 10 minutes.
Ahead of England vs Japan, read all about Fiji’s historic victory below:
Brilliant Fiji blow World Cup wide open with first win over Australia for 69 years
Australia 15-22 Fiji: Turnovers and exquisite kicking from Simione Kuruvoli helped Fiji keep their quarter-final hopes alive with a fantastic win
England have their smile back – but Japan could pose a problem in tonight’s Rugby World Cup clash
On Friday night, soon after naming his England side to take on Japan, it was put to Steve Borthwick that it looked the smile had been back on his face since a reinvigorating win against Argentina. Borthwick can be a phlegmatic figure, sensible and sober, but even he has worn a grin at times this week. “I think I smile a lot,” Borthwick chuckled, but soon enough it was back to the job at hand. “Every day, we try to get better. Our focus is playing Japan on Sunday night and we can’t wait for that game.”
What a difference a win makes. Nice has been a favourite destination for the English since the late 18th century and this latest band of travellers settling in on this pretty patch of coastline are enjoying their French adventure so far. England, clearly, are still behind the top sides in the world, but it is with a spring in their step that they look to try and take another stride forward against Japan this weekend.
If there was a sense that some of the players’ faith in their strategy may have been waning after the warm-up woes, all are now back on board and ready for more. “They can’t wait to get out there on the big occasion again,” Borthwick said of his players ahead of their second Pool D fixture. “The party started on Friday night in Paris last week, and we’ve got a couple more players who want to join the party this week. This team wants to be in the thick of it and we’re looking forward to this game on Sunday night.”
Read Harry Latham-Coyle’s full preview from Nice ahead of kick-off:
England have their smile back – but Japan could pose a problem
The win over Argentina has lifted the mood in England camp as they prepare for their second pool fixture
England vs Japan starling lineups
We are fast approaching kick-off here in Nice. A final reminder of how both sides will line up:
England XV: 15-Freddie Steward, 14-Jonny May, 13-Joe Marchant, 12-Manu Tuilagi, 11-Elliot Daly, 10-George Ford, 9-Alex Mitchell; 1-Joe Marler, 2-Jamie George, 3-Kyle Sinckler, 4-Maro Itoje, 5-Ollie Chessum, 6-Courtney Lawes (c), 7-Ben Earl, 8-Lewis Ludlam.
Japan XV: 15-Semisi Masirewa, 14-Kotaro Matsushima, 13-Tomoko Osada, 12-Ryoto Nakamura, 11-Jone Naikabula, 10-Rikiya Matsuda, 9-Yutaka Nagare; 1-Keita Inagaki, 2-Shota Horie, 3-Jiwon Gu, 4-Jack Cornelsen, 5-Amato Fakatava, 6-Michael Leitch, 7-Pieter Labuschagne, 8-Kazuki Himeno (c).
England vs Japan talking points
Tika Taka Japan
Defence coach Sinfield has compared Japan’s tactics to the ‘Tika Taka’ football played by Barcelona and England are on guard for dynamic opponents who like to move the ball and look for space over contact.
They are not the force of four years ago when they lit up their home World Cup through enterprise and courage, but they have the capacity to upset the favourites if they hit their stride.
England’s Steve Borthwick speaks to ITV
Here’s what the England head coach had to say ahead of kick-off:
England vs Japan talking points
Ford’s final audition
A fudge beckons when Borthwick is confronted with one of the toughest selection decisions of his young reign. George Ford was outstanding against Argentina and is in the form of his life, but with Owen Farrell completing a four-match suspension against Japan the long-term friends are battling for the same number 10 jersey.
Borthwick will reveal his thinking in the final group fixture against Samoa on October 7 when he is expected to reunite the duo in a playmaking axis that served England well in 2019, but before then Ford has one last opportunity to show why he should be entrusted to pilot the team by himself.
England vs Japan talking points
Sinckler ready to roll
A big moment looms for Kyle Sinckler, who will be making his first World Cup appearance since he was knocked out in the final against South Africa four years ago.
Sinckler was in the form of his career in Japan, his scrummaging, ball handling skills and rampaging runs elevating him into the sport’s elite band of tighthead props. The 30-year-old has failed to rescale those heights since and now that he has recovered from a chest injury to take his place in the front row, he will be determined to invoke his 2019 form.
England vs Japan
Hello from a hot and humid Stade de Nice, where England’s players have just started their warm-ups, George Ford and Marcus Smith punting to one another as they acquaint themselves with the pitch. This was the scene of one of English football’s great disappointments, the exit to Iceland in the 2016 Euros - there were a few fans discussing exactly that non the tram over from the city earlier.
Given Japan’s lack of form this year, you’d say a defeat tonight for England would come as a bit of a surprise, though Jamie Joseph’s men still have oodles of quality in their 23. Portugal lit up this ground last night with their vibrant attacking game - can Japan do likewise?
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