Japan vs England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Marcus Smith inspires big win in Tokyo

Another scrum penalty England’s way, with their front row starting to get the edge on that front. Dan Cole takes the back slaps, the 37-year-old tighthead surely on his final overseas excursion with this squad but still a vital cornerstone at the set piece.

A frisson of excitement around the Japan National Stadium as the hosts go over on the right, but Koga Nekuza is deemed to have spilled forward in contact in the build-up.

And England capitalise out wide!

The moment of confusion after loosehead Bevan Rodd took that quick tap condensed the Japanese defence, five men converging on the Sale front row and thus leaving space out wide. A penalty advantage allows England to explore it, and Marcus Smith turns provider with a beautifully judged arch of a pass that lands in the lap of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. In he goes untouched;another Smith conversion means England are accelerating away.

A quick tap from Bevan Rodd! The prop seems confused himself as he decides to take a penalty five metres out from the Japan line, but it might just work...

Wallop! Chandler Cunningham-South is some physical prospect, and absolutely ends a Japanese carrier, forcing a knock on with a picture perfect rib examination.

A marvellous England score!

Oh, that really is quite lovely! An intricate move from a lineout is aided by two back rows in midfield, Sam Underhill providing inside threat after a superb Jamie George lineout throw beyond the back finds Ollie Lawrence, who flicks out the back with Ben Earl holding the defence on his own hard line.

That creates a chasm through which Marcus Smith can zip, and the fly half has the pace and poise to do the rest. Under the posts he scurries - England haven’t been at their best in this first half but that is a beaut!

England have plenty of crashing carriers of their own, as Ollie Lawrence shows, demolishing the chest of Tomoki Osada in a hard charge. Osada, somewhat understandably, fails to roll away. England advance from the penalty.

Japan are at it here, but just can’t quite keep their continuity at the key moments. A lovely bit of play from the halves sends Jone Naikabula rampaging up the right touchline. The wing is such a threat in the open field and darts in dangerously, but Marcus Smith gets contact on the ball as he’s bashed away, dislodging it just enough so it is sprung when Naikabula hits the deck.

Cunningham-South is ok to continue, taking up his place on the blindside of England’s defensive scrum. Japan try something fun in midfield but the connections between Tomoki Osada and Samisoni Tua aren’t clean.

Alex Mitchell boots upfield, but overcooks it - the right decision, just poor execution.

England try their own up-tempo beats, George Furbank and Alex Mitchell at the DJ decks and spinning something lively. Furbank jinks and finds his Northampton colleague with a clever pass, and Ben Earl might have been away had he been able to cling on to the scrum half’s inwards hurl. Slightly behind the number eight, but he’ll be disappointed not to have been able to hold it.

This is a worry, thouhg, for England - Chandler Cunningham-South is down in back play and receiving treatment. The referee uses the opportunity to call for a water break in the sweltering summer sun.