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 20:19 · Luke Baker]

France 3-0 South Africa, 15 mins

Sekou Macalou comes on for Danty, I can’t imagine he’ll return from that blow to the head. Macalou goes on the wing and Moefana into the centres. This will be an interesting test for Les Bleus.

Meanwhile, the Springboks try to reset as they prepare for 70 minutes with 14 men. They go through the phases and win a penalty in midfield, Du Klerk kicks to touch and this is a decent platform.

[12 November 2022 20:16 · Luke Baker]

RED CARD! France 3-0 SOUTH AFRICA (Du Toit, 11 mins)

Right, Danty is on the floor at the breakdown. And Du Toit basically targets his head with his own head. Ref Wayne Barnes discusses it with the TMO, there’s no mitigation and comes to the conclusion it’s a red card.

Simply had to be. Dangerous play from Du Toit. It’s a lonely walk off for him to the jeers of the crowd. He looks distraught on the bench. Danty off for a HIA

[12 November 2022 20:14 · Luke Baker]

France 3-0 South Africa, 11 mins

Ollivon steals the Springboks’ lineout on his own 22, prompting a roar from the crowd, and France can clear.

South Africa having more of the possession here and it’s been a physical encounter. Kolbe gets the ball on the right wing and runs across the field, probing for a whole, but Les Bleus stay firm.

A big defensive set and they win the penalty. Danty now receiving treatment after getting a blow to the head from Pieter-Steph du Toit at the breakdown. He could be in trouble here...

[12 November 2022 20:10 · Luke Baker]

France 3-0 South Africa, 8 mins

Nice kick across from Willemse lands in the hands of Kriel but he doesn’t have enough room on the left wing to make good ground. A break in play as a French player receives treatment but we’re good to go again.

The noise the French fans in the Stade Velodrome are making is immense by the way.

[12 November 2022 20:07 · Luke Baker]

France 3-0 South Africa, 6 mins

Penaud makes decent yards down the right and his clever kick nearly works but well covered by South Africa as Le Roux finds space. France get the ball back but they’re forced into touch on the left as Ntamack is dragged down by Willemse.

The Boks then clear their lines into the France half

[12 November 2022 20:05 · Luke Baker]

France 3-0 South Africa, 4 mins

A rare mistake from Alldritt as he drops the ball from the kick-off and that gives the Boks ball in the France 22. But the ball is stripped and France can clear. A missed opportunity.

Another drop, this time from South Africa as Moster spills it, with the ball proving slightly slippy early on. Scrum to France

[12 November 2022 20:03 · Luke Baker]

PEN! FRANCE 3-0 South Africa (Ramos, 2 mins)

Relatively long range but fairly straight and Thomas Ramos makes no mistake. The full-back ensures it’s first blood to France

[12 November 2022 20:02 · Luke Baker]

KICK-OFF! France 0-0 South Africa, 1 mins

Underway in Marseille. The noise in the Stade Velodrome is deafening. What an atmosphere!

France win an early penalty in the Springboks half. Shot at the posts?

[12 November 2022 19:58 · Luke Baker]

France vs South Africa

Anthems completed and it’s almost kick-off time in Marseille.

[12 November 2022 19:56 · Luke Baker]

France vs South Africa team news

France opt for the same team who edged Australia last weekend, looking to extend their unbeaten record to 12 matches.

Centre Jonathan Danty will start again after being a doubt following the birth of his child overnight on Tuesday, which saw him skip a couple of training sessions, while Yoram Moefana will again be on the wing.

South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber makes five changes following last Saturday’s 19-16 loss to Ireland in Dublin.

Willie le Roux is recalled at full-back and Faf de Klerk at scrum-half. He also includes uncapped fly-half Manie Libbok on the bench after struggling to find a consistent replacement at No. 10 for the injured Handre Pollard. Although Damian Williemse struggled against Ireland he is retained at fly-half.

Cheslin Kolbe goes back to the right wing and Kurt-Lee Arendse shifts to the left wing. Prop Ox Nche and hooker Bongi Mbonambi both start while Mostert is at lock after an injury to Lood de Jager.

Startling line-ups

France: 15 Thomas Ramos; 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Yoram Moefana; 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain); 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Anthony Jelonch; 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 Cameron Woki; 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille

Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Bastien Chalureau, 21 Sekou Macalou, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Matthieu Jalibert

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Albertus Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.

Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Makazole Mapimpi