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 14-0 Japan, 16 mins
A bit too easy for England so far, dare we say? They’re being more clinical in the 22 for sure, though.
Great run back by Van Poortvliet from a too-deep kick. Makes 15 metres as he glides past men. Lawrence then with a bruising carry to knock a man backwards.
Tommy Freeman’s grubber then just goes into touch.
TRY! England 14-0 Japan (Sam Underhill, 14 mins)
And that’s try number two! England lineout is clean and takes them within five metres. Sam Underhill then picks at the base of a ruck and powers through three men to stretch and dot down for the score.
Two tries, both from lineout ball. Simple conversion added.
England 7-0 Japan, 13 mins
Van Poortvliet snipes a gap and offloads to George. The ball bobbles slightly but England now within five metres.
Pass intercepted but abck for a penalty with Naikabula offside. England kick to the corner...
England 7-0 Japan, 12 mins
Nice score by England that although early concerns for the Japan defence given how easily Lawrence slipped through.
England again earn territory with the kick and have another lineout just outside the 22. Crash ball for Lawrence, into the 22...
TRY! England 7-0 Japan (Ben Earl, 10 minutes)
Decent territory win for England as they pin Japan deep with a kick and now have a lineout just outside the 22. Maro Itoje rises high to claim and here we go!
Quick hands, flat pass from Smith to a marauding Ollie Lawrence on a stunning line, he slips between two defenders, offloads to the supporting Ben Earl and it’s a run-in under the sticks.
Easy conversion and England on the board first.
England 0-0 Japan, 8 minutes
Decent England lineout and the maul makes a few metres towards halfway. Back to the box kick by Van Poortvliet and Naikabula bobbles it but grabs ont he second attempt.
Nice dummy by Japan fly half Nik McCurran makes a few extra metres but it’s all in their own half and they too opt for the boot. Picked up by Marcus Smith and the crowd momentarily gets excited but he’s stopped in his tracks.
England 0-0 Japan, 6 minutes
First bit of England possession, around halfway but the Japanese defence is solid and Jack van Poortvliet opts for the box kick. It’s windy here in London, so not the worst idea.
A loose bouncing ball claimed by Jamie George but turned over immediately, Japan with the crossfield kick and Jone Naikabula tries to hack ahead but skews the ball into touch. Ugly stuff early on here.
MISSED PENALTY! England 0-0 Japan, 4 minutes
Japan scrum-half Naoto Saito and his long-range attempt has the distance but drift wide of the left upright. Let-off for England
England 0-0 Japan, 3 minutes
Scrum reset before Japan awarded the fre-kick and they go quickly. Penalty coming now, an England player not rolling away and early disciplinary problems for the hosts again.
Japan will go for the posts from just inside the England half...
England 0-0 Japan, 2 minutes
England playing in their changed, dark red strip today with Japan in their classic red and white stripes.
Big tackle early from England drives the visitors back but they give up a penalty in the process. However, Nik McCurran misses touch before England try to find space in the backfield witha kick over the top but the ball runs dead, so a scrum back on halfway
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