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 15:40 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 10-0 Japan, 22 minutes

Luke Cowan-Dickie’s lineout throw secured with little certainty, but England just about have it and will play.

Picked off! Yutake Nagare snatches Marcus Smith’s pass like an apple from the autumn orchard and hurries away, kicking ahead as the English tacklers circle him.

[12 November 2022 15:38 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 10-0 Japan, 21 minutes

Scrum three, penalty three for England, who are on top at the set piece so far.

[12 November 2022 15:37 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 10-0 Japan, 19 minutes

Guy Porter is slightly loose in his carry and is mugged of the ball by Ryoto Nakamura, with shouts of excitement from the Japan backs as they power up their engines for a chance to attack with turnover ball. Dylan Riley leads them up the left, but the handling is imprecise, and England will have a scrum.

[12 November 2022 15:34 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 10-0 Japan, 17 minutes

Through goes Jonny Hill but there is a knock on in the build up! England vary their play, Luke Cowan-Dickie coming around the corner as Tom Curry feeds him at the back of the maul. The hooker combines with his Exeter teammate Sam Simmonds, but as England try to play quickly away from the base, a horrible pass leaves Tom Curry a scooping job to do - and the flanker fails to do it cleanly. Hill throws his head back in frustration after collecting and crossing. A chance missed.

[12 November 2022 15:33 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 10-0 Japan, 16 minutes

A second scrum penalty of this young contest for England, with Ji-won Gu again the man picked out. England re-enter the Japan 22.

[12 November 2022 15:30 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 10-0 Japan, 14 minutes

Japan’s restart hangs handsomely in the Twickenham sky, but Dave Ribbans is up with equal grace to claim. With an advantage for collapsing the maul, Owen Farrell tries something funky, kicking across for Jonny May to gather.

May’s kick ahead triggers a call of “advantage over”, but England are up in good number to force a knock on Kotaro Matsushima, stooping to take Tevita Tatafu’s offload at his shoelaces.

[12 November 2022 15:27 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

TRY! ENGLAND 10-0 Japan (Freddie Steward try, 12 minutes)

There’s the clinical edge England lacked last weekend!

Japan stymie the English drive, forcing it back and then sideways, with Jack van Poortvliet asked to remove the ball by the referee. The scrum-half does, setting in motion a backs move, with Owen Farrell up in the line and pulling back for Marcus Smith, who in turns feeds on to Freddie Steward.

Steward fades just enough on it to arc past Kotaro Matsushima, with Jonny May outside him holding the edge defender. The long-striding full-back powers away; England are off to an excellent start, with Owen Farrell collecting two more from the tee.

(Getty Images)

[12 November 2022 15:26 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 3-0 Japan, 10 minutes

The England pack roar their delight as James Doleman whistles for a penalty their way - Ji-won Gu’s bind has irked the referee.

Owen Farrell kicks England into the 22.

[12 November 2022 15:25 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 3-0 Japan, 8 minutes

Ellis Genge looks on it this afternoon. Again the Bristol prop charges up with ominous intent, once more brusque and bruising in his investigation of a Japanese midriff. England counter-ruck and win turnover ball, which is booted up field.

Maro Itoje knocks on as he tries to gather the Japanese reply.

[12 November 2022 15:23 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

England 3-0 Japan, 6 minutes

England now are guilty of a midfield offside, and Japan begin to fizz a little as they work the phases. Kazuki Himeno makes a sizeable carry as he thunders in from the right touchline.

Ellis Genge draws oohs of approval from the England fans as he delivers a rib-tickler to Atsushi Sakate, and Japan run out of flow.

The penalty is theirs though, of course, and into the England 22 Sakate leads his team for the first time.