After losing their last three games, the England rugby team strike back in the last game of the Autumn Nations campaign.
After losing three games on the trot, England needed a win against Japan in the Autumn Nations campaign.
The English team were quick to attack from kick-off at Twickenham in wet, windy conditions. Within seven minutes of starting, Ben Earl scored England’s first try underneath the goal posts, and fly-half Marcus Smith scored the conversion.
Five minutes later, England pulled off another converted try, as flanker Sam Underhill powered over the line and Marcus Smith scored a second conversion. But the English team suffered a set-back when Underhill was then taken off for an injury.
England were lucky with Underhill’s try, as television replays showed clear separation between Underhill’s hand and the ball.
Japan barely possessed the ball in the early stages of the game and it didn’t look to change, as halfway through the first half, captain and hooker, Jamie George scored England’s third try and Marcus Smith scored yet another conversion.
Ten minutes before half-time England’s strong will reigned supreme as captain Jamie George scored his second try of the game and Marcus Smith added another conversion.
Japan’s response was quick.
Japan hit back with arguably the try of the game, with skipper Naoto Saito’s neat footwork, he ran clear to dive under the posts, scoring Japan’s first try of the game. He then took the conversion himself, and brought Japan back into the game at 28-7 to England.
England responded with another converted try by winger Ollie Sleightholme, who was blocked by the Japanese defence before prodding the ball forward and reconnecting with it to score. Marcus Smith maintained his conversion streak.
At half time the score read 35-7 for England.
Eight minutes into the second half, England captain Jamie George – who had scored two tries – came off for Luke Cowan-Dickie, and scrum half Harry Randall came on to replace Jack van Poortvliet.
Jamie George was replaced in the early stages of the second half in all four games of the Autumn Nations series.
At 53 minutes, centre Henry Slade kicked it through for Tommy Freeman and passed it to clubmate George Furbank to score.
Just as a touch of club magic struck for England, Marcus Smith missed his first conversion of the night.
At minute 54, the game stood at 40-7 to England.
At 59 minutes the replacement hooker, Luke Cown-Dickie, scored England their seventh try of the night, as Marcus Smith missed another conversion.
Japan fought back with a try from Kazuki Himeno and Takuro Matsunaga added a conversion.
Halfway through the second half, hooker Luke Cown-Dickie burrowed over the line, after Tom Roebuck was tackled, to score England’s eighth try of the night. Marcus Smith added another conversion.
The replacement fly half Finn Smith pulled the game’s strings with a crossfield kick straight to winger Tom Roebuck who scored England’s ninth try and Marcus Smith’s magic boot once again added two points.
In the last few minutes England gunned for a tenth try but came up short as Japan defended firmly.
At full-time the score stood at 59-14 to England, allowing England to keep their winning streak against Japan.
Speaking to TNT Sports, fly half Marcus Smith said: “There is a lot of learning to take, but it is always good to finish with a win.
“The autumn did not go the way we wanted but we have taken a lot of learnings in closing games out. Hopefully the Six Nations we get to carry it on.”
Jamie George said: “I was really pleased how we went about it, we were clear about our identity. We speak about getting out house in order and I thought we did that today.”
England coach Steve Borthwick said to TNT Sports: “We need to move forward really quickly; the overriding emotion is frustration after the autumn but we have to reflect on some of the attacking plays as some of the tries today were outstanding.”
The Six Nations start on 31st January 2025 and finish 15th March 2025, with England’s next game against reigning Six Nations champions Ireland on 1st February 2025.
