PAUL REES ASSESSES THE FORM OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, FRANCE, WALES AND ITALY IN THE BUILDUP TO THE SIX NATIONS

ENGLAND

Result: Henry Slade celebrates a try with Tommy Freeman and George Furbank in the win over Japan. Right, Steve Borthwick

England against Japan last Sunday pitted the country of the false dawns against the land of the rising sun. The home side ended a frustrating month victorious against opponents greener than ship passengers lacking sea legs in a storm having opted to pick from strength rather than look at what was coming through.
It was not quite a cannon against a pea...