England vs Japan LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as impressive England notch big win to finish autumn
England 59-14 Japan: England run in nine tries to finish a frustrating Autumn Nations Series on a high against former boss Eddie Jones
After a difficult November, England finished with a flourish with a 59-14 thrashing of an overmatched Japan and former coach Eddie Jones.
Defeat to South Africa last weekend was a fifth defeat on the spin for Steve Borthwick’s side, and there was little room for experimentation in a first-choice line-up named to end the Autumn Nations Series. But that strong side rewarded their head coach’s faith with an impressive performance, notching a second victory of the year over their opponents to end on a high after ruing several weeks of missed opportunities.
England’s nine tries featured four scored by hookers as Luke Cowan-Dickie matched captain Jamie George’s tally off the bench, while Marcus Smith orchestrated impressively again from fly half. Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ollie Sleightholme, George Furbank and Tom Roebuck also dotted down to give the home fans a long-awaited success.
Relive all the action from Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in our live blog below:
England 59-14 Japan, 80 minutes
Lineout comes to nothing, so a Japan scrum. Final knockings here.
England 59-14 Japan, 79 minutes
The maul is messy but England given the penalty as Epineri Uluiviti changed his bind and Yukio Morikawa came in from the side.
Another five-metre lineout for England with 60 seconds left.
England 59-14 Japan, 78 minutes
One final try for England to reach a nice round 10? A few phases in the 22 before Fin Smith grubbers through but a frantic Japan defence seize upon it and boot clear to the 22.
England 59-14 Japan, 76 minutes
Expansive again from Japan as Tatafu lofts a long pass out to Naikabula but it’s clearly forward, so another England scrum on halfway.
The replacement front row are again solid, the ball is spread left and Smith pulls off a 50-22! Pin-perfect kick that bounces out of play to give England another attacking platform.
England 59-14 Japan, 74 minutes
England’s replacement front row wins the penalty. And young Opoku-Fordjour is getting slaps on his back from teammates.
Safely cleared up to halfway.
England 59-14 Japan, 73 minutes
Lineout to the back and it’s knocked on by Japan as Tatafu tries to grab it above his head. Scrappy.
Scrum to England on their own five-metre line.
England 59-14 Japan, 72 minutes
Japan fancy getting a third try here as they attack and move into the England 22.
They loft a long pass out to the right that bounces into touch but England are caught offside. Penalty five metres out, pretty central. Kick to touch for the five-metre lineout...
TRY! England 59-14 Japan (Tom Roebuck, 69 minutes)
It’s not long until it’s another England try and this time Tom Roebuck gets in on the act.
A long pass is looped out to him on the right and it’s a sublime finish and he drives into the 22 by handing off a defender, dances past another player and goes under the posts, giving Smith a simple conversion.
England 52-14 Japan, 68 minutes
Another cracking kick through, this time from Randall and Japan are pinned inside their own 22 once more. Lineout disrupted and England have possession.
TRY! England 52-14 Japan (Luke Cowan-Dickie, 65 minutes)
England aren’t stopped for long though. And it’s Luke Cowan-Dickie again! He picks up, gets low and drives his powerful legs to burrow over the whitewash.
A fouth try for England’s hookers today! Simple conversion for Smith and England are cruising once more.
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