England vs Japan LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as much-improved England seal big win

England 52-13 Japan: Eddie Jones’s side were rampant in scoring seven tries

England were much improved against Japan at Twickenham (Getty Images)

England put last week’s ragged defeat by Argentina firmly behind them when they ran in six tries, plus a penalty try, and played some highly entertaining rugby along the way to overwhelm Japan 52-13 at Twickenham.

Full-back Freddie Steward was the star of the first half as he claimed the opening try and had a hand in scores for Guy Porter and Marcus Smith as England led 24-6 at the break and stretched that lead in the second half through Ellis Genge and Porter.

England lost their way for 20 minutes, allowing Naoto Saito to score Japan’s only try, before a penalty try and a second from Smith finished things off for the hosts. Owen Farrell landed all six conversion attempts as well as an early penalty.

England, who will play Japan again in the pool stage of the World Cup next September, face New Zealand next week, before finishing their autumn internationals against South Africa. Japan, who pushed France and New Zealand close in their previous two games, play France again next Sunday.

Relive all the action from Twickenham with our blog:

England vs Japan latest updates

• FOLLOW LIVE COVERAGE OF WALES VS ARGENTINA
• FULL-TIME! England 52-13 Japan
• 74’ - TRY! Smith collects Slade’s kick and touches down (ENG 52-13 JPN)
• 70’ - TRY! Penalty try for England after a side entry from Japan (ENG 45-13 JPN)
• 59’ - TRY! Saito dots down after good offload (ENG 38-13 JPN)
• 50’ - TRY! Porter wins a foot-race to Farrell’s kick for his second try (ENG 38-6 JPN)
• 48’ - TRY! Genge powers through defenders for the score (ENG 31-6 JPN)
• 40’ - TRY! Porter finishes off move in the corner (ENG 24-6 JPN)
• 24’ - TRY! Smith scores after a brilliant England counter (ENG 17-0 JPN)
• 12’ - TRY! Steward scythes over after a set-play from a lineout maul (ENG 10-0 JPN)

[12 November 2022 18:33 · Luke Baker]

Wales 10-6 Argentina, 41 mins

Back underway for the second half in Cardiff. Can Wales convert this to a victory?

Nice carry by Rees-Zammit early in the second half before Cruz Mallia does well under a high ball during a kicking battle.

[12 November 2022 18:25 · Luke Baker]

WATCH: Faletau goes over for the try

The only try of the first half came from Taulupe Faletau as he was driven over the whitewash

[12 November 2022 18:16 · Luke Baker]

HALF-TIME! Wales 10-6 Argentina

Last play before half-time and Wales run a few phases in the tight before Anscombe boots it into the stands. The game in the balance but Wales deservedly lead through Faletau’s try.

(PA)

[12 November 2022 18:15 · Luke Baker]

Wales 10-6 Argentina, 38 mins

Tompkins spills the kick-off to give possession straight to Argentina but Gonzalez returns the favour and Williams clears up to halfway.

Good contest in the air between Boffelli and Ree-Zammit sees Argentina earn the lineout but an attempted quick lineout to the front is disrupted by Gareth Thomas. Good awareness from the prop and it wins his team a scrum, just inside their own half

[12 November 2022 18:13 · Luke Baker]

PEN! WALES 10-6 Argentina, (Anscombe, 37 mins)

Easy enough for Anscombe and he slots the kick. Wales have dominated the last 10 minutes and deservedly lead.

[12 November 2022 18:12 · Luke Baker]

Wales 7-6 Argentina, 36 mins

A rare mistake from Carreras as he boots the kick-off straight out of play to immediately cede possession back to Wales.

Huge carry by North sends two defenders backwards! Superb stuff. Argentina then pinged for taking out the man off the ball and Anscombe can extend the lead from the tee.

[12 November 2022 18:07 · Luke Baker]

TRY! WALES 7-6 Argentina (Faletau, 31 mins)

And there it is! Wales over at last.

In the end it’s rather simple. Good execution of the basics to claim lineout ball, they set up the driving maul and it moves inexorably to the line where Taulupe Faletau flops down for the score.

Gareth Anscombe adds the conversion and Wales are ahead

[12 November 2022 18:06 · Luke Baker]

Wales 0-6 Argentina, 30 mins

Good, strong running from Tompkins gets him over the gain-line and into the Pumas 22. North then sent flying backwards by some great shoot-up defence.

Another penalty for Wales as Argentina penalised for offside - third penalty against them. Wales consider going for the posts but it’s to the corner again instead.

[12 November 2022 18:02 · Luke Baker]

Wales 0-6 Argentina, 27 mins

This is entertainingly frantic! Better lineout from Owens, finding Tipuric. The noise around the stadium rises as Wales get closer to the line as Rees-Zammit makes some yards before Thomas is inches short.

Owens then dives for the line but the ball comes loose and Argentina pick it up before running from in their own in-goal area! They actually have a 3-on-1 overlap but Carreras drops the pass. Back for an Argentina scrum on their own 5-metre line.

Bad news for Wales though as Dan Lydiate goes off holding his left wrist. Jac Morgan comes on into the back row.

[12 November 2022 17:59 · Luke Baker]

Wales 0-6 Argentina, 26 mins

Poor execution from Wales. The lineout is overthrown and Argentina steal, although Carreras then runs sideways in his own 22. The Pumas scramble a clearance kick but it doesn’t have great distance. Another Wales lineout just outside the 22