England vs Japan LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as impressive England notch big win to finish autumn
England 59-14 Japan: England run in nine tries to finish a frustrating Autumn Nations Series on a high against former boss Eddie Jones
After a difficult November, England finished with a flourish with a 59-14 thrashing of an overmatched Japan and former coach Eddie Jones.
Defeat to South Africa last weekend was a fifth defeat on the spin for Steve Borthwick’s side, and there was little room for experimentation in a first-choice line-up named to end the Autumn Nations Series. But that strong side rewarded their head coach’s faith with an impressive performance, notching a second victory of the year over their opponents to end on a high after ruing several weeks of missed opportunities.
England’s nine tries featured four scored by hookers as Luke Cowan-Dickie matched captain Jamie George’s tally off the bench, while Marcus Smith orchestrated impressively again from fly half. Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ollie Sleightholme, George Furbank and Tom Roebuck also dotted down to give the home fans a long-awaited success.
Relive all the action from Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in our live blog below:
England 28-0 Japan, 33 minutes
A job well done for England so far
TRY! England 28-0 Japan, 32 minutes
The Japanese maul defence initially holds up better this time but here come the England backs to add some extra grunt!
And now the maul is moving, grinding forward and there it is! Jamie George again the man at the bottom of the pile who grounds the ball.
Smith adds the extras and England have been completely dominant here - barely been in their own half.
England 21-0 Japan, 30 minutes
A reprieve for Japan but their scrum is totally obliterated by an angry England front row. Looshead Takato Okabe the man pinged but the entire Japanese pack was in disarrya.
England kick back to the corner. Will they be denied this time?
NO TRY! England 21-0 Japan, 29 minutes
Try number four, scored in the corner by England. After Smith’s snipe, Van Poortvliet quickly goes right, Slade then helps the ball on to Tommy Freeman on the flank and he acrobatically dots down in the corner.
But hold on! A late intervention from the TMO, checking for a knock-on from Van Poortvliet at the base of the ruck. It’s the slightest of knocks forward - very pernickity but yep, it’s been ruled out. Boos from the Allianz Stadium crowd!
England 21-0 Japan, 28 minutes
Another nice first-phase move from the lineout as Henry Slade comes on the wraparound. Marcus Smith then snipes to take England within ten metres of the line
England 21-0 Japan, 27 minutes
Scrum shenanigans on halfway but in the end, England’s front row are solid and drive their opposite numbers off the ball to win a penalty.
Cries of “good scrum, good scrum” from the home pack and you know what, it was! Smith boots England into the Japan 22 where they’ll have another lineout.
TRY! England 21-0 Japan (Jamie George, 24 mins)
Itoje claims the lineout and the maul heaves towards the line. Its progress is inexorable as the backs get involved and it’s skipper Jamie George who eventually flops over the line for try number three.
Pleasingly efficient stuff from the lineout so far today. A marginally tougher conversion for Smith but same result. England just short of a point per minute at the moment.
England 14-0 Japan, 22 mins
The scrum is scrappy and again we’ve got a reset but eventually Japan get the ball cleanly away. They runa few phases on their own 22 but then opt to hoof clear over halfway.
England build from halfway and earn a penalty for offside. Smith kicks to the corner, finding touch five metres out, and England are going for the jugular here.
England 14-0 Japan, 19 mins
England again with a lineout just outside the 22. We’ve been here before... Cunningham-South – just on for Sam Underhill, who injured himself in the act of scoring – lifted and cleanly takes before the maul makes a few metres.
Ball flung out to the backs but Lawrence is too ambitious with an offload from within the tackle and the ball goes loose. Japan scrum.
England skipper Jamie George in the referee’s ear, telling him to watch the mark, believing Japan are trying to steal some yards.
England 14-0 Japan
This is a powerful and purposeful start from England. Ollie Lawrence has been dominant in the carry so far and given the hosts real impetus, with Japan a little soft defensively. It is a shame, though, to see Sam Underhill limp off - his wretched injury record remains a real concern. Chandler Cunningham-South is on; Tom Curry slides across to seven.
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