By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports
England, currently on a five-game losing streak, is in a crucial position as they prepare to face Japan at Twickenham.
Their winless autumn campaign has been a disappointment to both players and fans.
However, they are heavily favoured to win against Japan, presenting an intriguing contest with numerous betting opportunities.
England
The energy and buzz around this England team were palpable. However, after three narrow defeats to Southern Hemisphere sides, people have pondered the future of the England side.
What is most frustrating for fans is that they are always in close games but recently end up on the losing side of the affair.
As stated before, England have lost all five of their last matches and averaged 21 points per match.
Tom Curry will return after a nasty head knock that took him out of the South Africa clash.
Steve Borthwick has put out a strong side to face the Japanese, as key players such as Marcus Smith, Ben Earl, and Henry Slade will all be looking to make an impact to secure a much-needed win.
There will be a lot of pressure on England to put on a dominant display in front of their home crowd and secure a victory against their former coach.
Japan
Japan are a joy to watch play rugby; the Asian team fully embody the underdog spirit and put on a bold display when on the field.
They have shown an ability to run very close to tier-one nations. Historically, they have enjoyed their trips to England; for example, a game that will live long in the history of Japanese rugby is that magical day in Brighton where Japan defeated the Springboks in the 2015 World Cup.
The mastermind behind that performance was, of course, Eddie Jones, which is why, when it was announced he would be returning to the team, there was a lot of excitement that he could recapture the magic we have seen over the years.
Yet his second stint with the Japanese hasn’t gotten off to the best start.
After losing out on the Pacific Cup to Fiji in the summer, they have come up short against tier-one nations.
They are coming off a win against Uruguay, but over recent months, they have suffered heavy defeats to the likes of France, New Zealand, and England.
Japan will be looking for big performances from Naoto Saito, Dylan Riley, and Faulua Makisi if they want to cause a massive upset at Twickenham.
The Bets
In an England and Japan clash, there are always exciting betting options.
The best bet seems to be that England will win by more than 34.5 points on paper, and based on the result in June, Borthwick’s team should win comfortably.
But what if the game turns out to be a high-scoring thriller?
There is good value in the total number of points exceeding 66.5. Based on their last encounters, it could follow the same pattern on Sunday.
For those who like a high-risk, high-reward situation, the long-shot bet is for Jamie George to score two or more tries.
The set piece should be much stronger from England’s side, and if it is in striking range, you know George will get over the white line.
Best Bet: England to win by over 34.5 points – 10/11
Value Bet: Total number of points to be over 66.5 – 5/4
Longshot Bet: Jamie George to score two or more tries – 4/1
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