By Ben Jaycock, Assistant Editor at Stade de Nice
England………………………………34
Tries: Ludlam 24, Lawes 56, Steward 66, Marchant 80+1
Conversions: Ford 26, 56, 67, 80+1
Penalties: Ford 4, 42
Japan………………………………….12
Penalties: Matsuda 15, 23, 32, 54
England eventually pulled away to record a healthy victory against a wasteful Japan, but Steve Borthwick‘s side’s lack of invention and creativity in attack will be a cause for concern looking ahead to the knockout stages.
Having come into the tournament with five losses from their previous six Tests, England have turned a corner at the right time results wise and are in pole position to top Pool D, but will need to improve if they are to challenge the world’s top nations in this World Cup.
Last week George Ford was England’s hero with his trio of drop goals but the persistent kicking by him and his half back partner Alex Mitchell repeatedly resulted in a chorus of boos from the bemused travelling England supporters.
The humid conditions in Nice did neither side any favours with both committing an abundance of handling errors when presented with opportunities, and in comparison to the humdinger between Australia and Fiji two hours beforehand this contest was a damp squib.
Two well-taken tries in the final fifteen minutes helped put the gloss on the showing from the men in white, and the game as a whole, but England will do well to be mindful of a first hour where they didn’t show a great deal.
Semisi Masirewa committed a crucial error inside two minutes as he knocked on Elliot Daly’s kick in behind that should have been comfortably dealt with.
The result was an England five metre scrum, but Freddie Steward knocked on and having had penalty advantage in front of the sticks the decision was to go for the three points, much to the annoyance of the England fans.
Ford converted for an early England lead but Japan responded with sustained pressure until Joe Marler got himself over the ball to alleviate the danger.
Japan were the better side in the opening quarter and equalised through a Rikiya Matsuda penalty.
Jamie Joseph’s side dominated possession and territory, positioning themselves inside England’s half for the vast majority of the first stanza with only last ditch tackles from the likes of Courtney Lawes keeping them at bay.
As a result, it was Japan’s travelling voices that were loud and proud while the England supporters had very little to shout about in what was another underwhelming first half display.
Ford was charged down by his opposite number Matsuda in what looked like a deserved try for Japan, only for Alex Mitchell to race back and spare his half back’s blushes.
Matsuda put Japan ahead with a penalty but courtesy of a beautifully weighted kick in behind by Ford, Japan knocked on once more in front of their try line through Amato Fakatava and Lewis Ludlam was on hand to score England’s second try from close-range.
Ford struck a wayward penalty from 45m out while Matusda took advantage with his shot.
England won a penalty and instead of going for posts they went to the corner giving the crowd a lift, but a golden opportunity was wasted when the forward pack got their wires crossed and Jamie George ended up knocking on.
Ford did knock over another penalty on the stroke of half time but England’s first half display left much to be desired.
England were handed a massive piece of good fortune midway through the second half with Courtney Lawes’ try epitomising the motto play to the whistle.
Will Stuart appeared to have knocked on with the ball coming off Marler’s head and Lawes left to gingerly dot down more in hope than anything else.
However, the TMO stepped in and found the ball went backwards off Stuart and to England’s amazement awarded the try.
With a penalty advantage, Ford produced a pinpoint crossfield kick to pick out his 6ft 5in full back Steward who finished well for England’s third try ten minutes later, as their attack began to become more expansive in the final quarter.
Ford converted the try from the corner in the final before the try scoring was rounded off through Joe Marchant profiting from quick ball, as Japan ran out of steam in the final quarter having defended for the vast majority of the contested and were well beaten late on.
Teams and details – read Nick Powell’s player ratings here.
ENGLAND: Steward (Smith 69), May, Marchant, Tuilagi (Lawrence 69), Daly, Ford, Mitchell (Youngs 59); Marler (Genge 59), George (Dan 74), Sinckler (Stuart 51), Itoje, Chessum (Lawes 74), Lawes (c) (Martin 63), Earl, Ludlam (Vunipola 51)
JAPAN: Masirewa (Lemeki 7), Matsushima, Osada, Nakamura, Naikabula (Riley 50), Matsuda, Nagare (Saito 65); Inagaki (Millar 50), Horie (Sakate 62), Gu (Ai Valu 40), Cornelsen, Fakatava (Dearns 62), Leitch, Labuschagne (Shimokawa 74), Himeno
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Attendance: 30,500
Star man: Courtney Lawes – England
Half time: 10-6
Penalties conceded: 6/6
Lineouts won: 10/8
Lineouts lost: 3/4
Scrums won: 9/6
Scrums lost: 2/1
Cards: 0/0
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