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 17:03 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

FULL TIME! ENGLAND 52-13 JAPAN

(Getty Images)

[12 November 2022 17:03 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 52-13 Japan, 80 minutes

Time for one more for England? Manu Tuilagi sets a burly platform on the crash ball, and Freddie Steward is found wonderfull by a wide pass on right right. Steward is chopped down at the ankles by an outstanding cover tackle, and Henry Slade knocks on as he hits an angle in the next phase.

Japan will feed a five metre scrum with the clock in the red...

[12 November 2022 17:02 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 52-13 Japan, 79 minutes

England threaten another delightful carving after a Japan turnover in their own half, but Henry Slade can’t quite fling a pass away with Jonny May again disappointed on the left touchline.

[12 November 2022 16:59 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 52-13 Japan, 77 minutes

Nearly another! More sparkling handling from England, with Owen Farrell, now moving totally freely after that apparent issue, knifing between two tacklers and offloading.

Henry Slade guides a grubber for Jonny May to chase, but it slides slightly off the outside of the boot and into touch in goal. May looks to the heavens - he’d have got there first.

[12 November 2022 16:55 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! ENGLAND 52-13 Japan (Marcus Smith try, 74 minutes)

Three kicks and England are in!

Crossfield; chip; hack ahead - England show a range of skills with the boot to hit fifty. Marcus Smith finds Freddie Steward on the right, Steward forced to stall to catch but still with space in front of him. The full-back-cum-wing chips ahead, with the bounce of the ball catching out the Japanese pendulum defender, allowing Henry Slade to produce a rather more rushed stab onwards.

It skews to the left, spinning and bouncing perfectly for Marcus Smith to gather and flop over. Owen Farrell converts.

[12 November 2022 16:54 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 45-13 Japan, 73 minutes

Ji-Won Gu is helped off the pitch - a solid enough effort from the Japan tighthead after some early scrum-time frights against Ellis Genge.

Kotaro Matsushima knocks Ben Youngs’ box kick into touch.

[12 November 2022 16:53 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 45-13 Japan, 72 minutes

England spill the restart. The seldom-sighted Kotaro Matsushima darts into Marcus Smith, generating Japanese momentum.

That rather stalls it! A crunching hit from Owen Farrell, whose lower limb injury appears to have healed.

Japan manage to get a pass over the top of a leaping Jonny May, but the cover defence is sound, and Japan are forced into touch.

[12 November 2022 16:49 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! ENGLAND 45-13 Japan (Penalty try, 70 minutes)

Japan bring the maul down illegally and referee James Doleman trots beneath the posts!

England begin to get on the march, with Japan’s forwards struggling to quell the drive. Siosaia Fifita lends his weight, but arrives from the side, which Doleman deems prevents a try being scored.

Fifita is shown yellow, England’s tally increases by seven, and the hosts will fancy hitting fifty.

[12 November 2022 16:48 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 38-13 Japan, 69 minutes

Bright from Jonny May, timing his blitz around the corner perfectly to force a knock on from Naoto Saito. A Japan player in front of the scrum half then picks up to prevent England capitalising further, which upgrades the scrum to a penalty.

Another penalty at the lineout allows Marcus Smith to advance his forward pack further.

[12 November 2022 16:46 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 38-13 Japan, 65 minutes

Japan on the attack as the action resumes after those changes. A sustained period sees Warner Dearns go mighty close, with Tom Curry just able to wrestle the lock to the floor.

Dylan Riley nutmegs Henry Slade and dashes after his kick through, but Owen Farrell is back to defuse the danger.

That will be a worry for Eddie Jones, though - Farrell grimaces as he slides to ground the ball, and isn’t moving particularly freely as he rejoins his teammates for the goalline drop out. He’ll continue with England out of replacements, but one to monitor.