England ended their five-match shedding streak with a complete 59-14 rout of Japan at Allianz Stadium.
Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie each scored two tries, whereas Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ollie Sleightholme, George Furbank and Tom Roebuck additionally crossed as Steve Borthwick’s aspect concluded their Autumn Nations sequence in type.
The hosts’ energy on the lineout culminated in three tries within the opening 25 minutes, with Earl, Underhill and George all going over.
Tommy Freeman was denied following a TMO evaluate, however George grabbed his second simply after the half-hour mark to stretch the result in 28-0.
Japan stopped the rot and obtained on the scoreboard following a swift counter, with Naoto Saito darting for the road, however Sleightholme responded shortly – chasing his personal punt to make it 35-7 on the break.
England picked up from the place they left off within the second half, with Freeman’s very good move behind his again permitting Furbank to the touch down.
Cowan-Dickie’s pair of tries sandwiched a comfort effort from Kazuki Himeno, however the hosts had the ultimate phrase as Roebuck – denied on the road moments earlier – accomplished the rout along with his first worldwide strive.
Speaking Level – A optimistic finish to a difficult spell for England
Borthwick was desperately searching for a response from his gamers, and hoping they may finish their sequence on a excessive after three November defeats.
There was additionally the aspect observe of Eddie Jones’ return to Allianz Stadium for the primary time since his dismissal as England head coach in 2022.
The hosts grasped the chance to specific themselves, crossing the try-line on 9 events.
It was becoming for George to have a say on the day he grew to become his nation’s joint most-capped hooker with Dylan Hartley.
Marcus Smith additionally chipped in with 14 factors from the tee, transferring him previous Charlie Hodgson to eighth place on England’s all-time checklist.
A much-needed victory offers the 2003 world champions one thing to construct on, as their consideration turns to the Six Nations marketing campaign at first of February.
Participant of the Match – Ollie Sleightholme (England)
The Northampton Saints winger continued his advantageous begin to worldwide rugby with a fourth strive in simply 5 Exams.
He took it fantastically, too, staying calm beneath strain to punt in behind the protecting defender, permitting him to evade the problem and contact down.
As a aspect observe, Sleightholme has already equalled the England strive tally his father Jon amassed, and can nearly definitely surpass that.
Participant Scores
England: Furbank 7, Freeman 7, Lawrence 7, Slade 7, Sleightholme 8*, M. Smith 8, Van Poortvliet 7; Genge 7, George 8, Stuart 8, Itoje 8, Martin 7, Curry 7, Underhill 7, Earl 8. Replacements: Cowan-Dickie 8, Baxter 6, Opoku-Fordjour 6, Isiekwe 6, Cunningham-South 7, Randall 6, F. Smith 7, Roebuck 7.
Japan: Matsunaga 7, Osada 6, Riley 6, Fifita 6, Naikabula 6, McCurran 6, Saito 7; Okabe 6, Harada 6, Takeuchi 6, Waqa 6, Uluiviti 6, Shimokawa 6, Himeno 7, Makisi 6. Replacements: Matsuoka 6, Morikawa 6, Tamefusa 6, Akiyama 6, Tatafu 6, Gunter 6, Fujiwara 6, Kajimura 6.
Match Highlights
10′ TRY! ENGLAND 7-0 JAPAN (EARL): The hosts break by way of as they burst into life from the ruck. Marcus Smith barely delays his move to Lawrence, who subsequently advances earlier than offloading to Earl, and the quantity eight darts beneath the posts. 5 factors turn into seven with Marcus Smith making no mistake.
15′ TRY! ENGLAND 14-0 JAPAN (UNDERHILL): The Blossoms are penalised for offside and, after Marcus Smith finds contact, the hosts drive from the lineout. Itoje goes shut earlier than Underhill finally crosses, although replays counsel the openside flanker didn’t fairly floor the ball accurately. However, the strive isn’t reviewed and Marcus Smith converts.
24′ TRY! ENGLAND 21-0 JAPAN (GEORGE): The hosts surge from the lineout and are far too sturdy for his or her opponents, with George finally getting the ball down. Marcus Smith makes it three from three from the tee.
32′ TRY! ENGLAND 28-0 JAPAN (GEORGE): The hosts do get that fourth strive, with the skipper grabbing his second of the sport. As soon as once more, it comes from a lineout surge with George stretching over. Marcus Smith converts to remain good from the tee.
35′ TRY! ENGLAND 28-7 JAPAN (SAITO): An excellent strive from the guests! The Blossoms embark on a uncommon assault as they counter and capitalise on sloppy England defending. The ball is offloaded to Saito, who surges over and beneath the posts, earlier than changing himself.
38′ TRY! ENGLAND 35-7 JAPAN (SLEIGHTHOLME): Borthwick’s aspect swiftly reply, working the ball shortly from proper to left. Lawrence does effectively to evade a few challenges earlier than offloading to Stuart, whose very good move to Cunningham-South offers the latter loads of time to seek out the person over in Sleightholme. The winger is closed down, however cleverly punts in direction of the road, earlier than retrieving the ball and touching down. Marcus Smith brilliantly converts from a decent angle.
55′ TRY! ENGLAND 40-7 JAPAN (FURBANK): Furbank scores, however he’s indebted to Northampton Saints team-mate Freeman. The latter chases Slade’s punt in direction of the nook, earlier than producing an impressive move behind his again for Furbank to cross. Not aided by the sturdy wind, Marcus Smith pulls his conversion try simply broad of the posts.
61’ TRY! ENGLAND 45-7 JAPAN (COWAN-DICKIE): Something George can do, his fellow hooker will match. England surge for the road with Cowan-Dickie swivelling to get himself over. Nonetheless, the publish denies Marcus Smith’s conversion try.
63′ TRY! ENGLAND 45-14 JAPAN (HIMENO): The guests get one other strive on the board, albeit after England change off defensively. Japan take full benefit as they burst by way of the road, earlier than Himeno can cross unchallenged. Saito converts.
66′ TRY! ENGLAND 52-14 JAPAN (COWAN-DICKIE): The hosts hit again instantly as soon as extra. Roebuck is discovered by Fin Smith’s sensible offload and accelerates in direction of the road. Japan do effectively to carry him up, however Cowan-Dickie finally crosses for his second strive. Marcus Smith makes no mistake with the conversion.
70′ TRY! ENGLAND 59-14 JAPAN (ROEBUCK): Roebuck does get his first worldwide do this time! Receiving Fin Smith’s exact cross-kick, the alternative evades a few challenges and touches down beneath the posts. Marcus Smith converts as soon as extra.
Key Stats
Jamie George grew to become England’s joint most-capped hooker, matching Dylan Hartley on 97 caps.
England have now received all 11 of their conferences with Japan.
Japan have conceded over 20 factors in every of their final 14 Exams.
The Blossoms have now misplaced their final 12 matches in opposition to European nations.
