Japan vs England LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Marcus Smith inspires big win in Tokyo
Japan 17-52 England: Marcus Smith and Henry Slade pulled the strings as the visitors ran in eight tries
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Your support makes all the difference.England kicked off their summer tour with an eight-try thrashing of Japan in Tokyo as they tuned up for two Tests against the All Blacks.
Steve Borthwick’s side head south for a two-Test tour of New Zealand at the start of July, and the England head coach will have been pleased with how his side accelerated away after a sticky start on a hot and humid afternoon. After holding firm defensively despite a fast Japanese start, Marcus Smith and Henry Slade pulled the strings nicely at the Japan National Stadium as England showed off their attacking array to take control of the contest.
Four first-half tries were followed by scores after interval from Alex Mitchell, Ben Earl, Harry Randall and Sam Underhill, though England’s win was somewhat marred by the sending off of Charlie Ewels late on. The lock was making his first international appearance since being red carded at Twickenham against Ireland during the 2022 Six Nations but flew in dangerously on Japan captain Michael Leitch at a ruck to potentially end his tour.
The Ewels incident came amid Japan’s brightest spell as lock Warner Dearns created two excellent tries, but it is England who emerged as sizeable winners to take confidence into their first clash with the All Blacks in a fortnight.
Re-live all of the action from the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo below:
Japan vs England talking points: The indestructible man
When Tom Curry steps off the bench at National Stadium, it will complete a remarkable comeback for a player who has had just 34 minutes of action since last autumn’s World Cup. Curry underwent surgery to repair a career-threatening hip injury and despite the prognosis that he would not return until next season – if at all – he has shown remarkable powers of recovery to be involved on the summer tour. England will need his influence, especially in defence, if they are to topple the All Blacks.
Japan vs England talking points: Marcus Smith’s time to shine
George Ford was masterful as England finished the Six Nations by finding their mojo against Ireland and France but with the veteran fly-half absent through injury, Marcus Smith will pull the strings against Japan. Smith has always been operating in the shadow of Ford or Owen Farrell but with both of them out of the picture, it is time for the Harlequins’ playmaker to prove he can provide the game management to match his creativity on the Test stage.
Japan vs England talking points: All Blacks curtain raiser
Bigger tests than Japan await England on their summer tour and with New Zealand looming in a fortnight, Borthwick has selected a side that is close to first choice in the hope of building cohesion and momentum. The conditions in Tokyo and Dunedin – the setting for their first clash with the All Blacks – will be as different as the quality of the opposition, but a conclusive victory is still vital.
Japan vs England talking points: Master v apprentice
Possibly more interesting than an encounter England should win comfortably is the sub plot of Eddie Jones’s first confrontation with his former employers and first head to head with Borthwick, his number two at Twickenham and during his first spell with the Brave Blossoms. It is a fascinating duel that pits veteran Jones against the man who he guided for the first seven years of his coaching career. Both will be desperate to win.
Five things to watch ahead of rugby’s summer kick-off
It’s a busy day of rugby, with the United Rugby Championship, Super Rugby and Premiership Women’s Rugby finals to come alongside the start of the international summer. Wales, South Africa, Fiji and the Barbarians will all be out on the Twickenham turf a little later:
Five things to watch ahead of rugby’s summer kick-off
The Test summer gets underway in earnest with England in Japan and Wales taking on the Springboks at Twickenham
Eddie Jones’ mind games will not unsettle England against Japan – Jamie George
Jamie George insisted England would not be unsettled by any mind games from Eddie Jones as they prepared to face their former head coach for the first time since he was sacked in 2022.
Jones’ seven-year Twickenham stewardship ended 18 months ago because of an ongoing decline in results and after a disastrous and short-lived stint with Australia, he was placed back in charge of Japan.
In Tokyo today, he will lock horns with his former number two Steve Borthwick in an intriguing sub-plot to the opening assignment of England’s summer tour, which also includes two matches against New Zealand.
Eddie Jones’ mind games will not unsettle England against Japan – Jamie George
Jones’ seven-year Twickenham stewardship ended 18 months ago because of an ongoing decline in results and he is now back in charge of Japan.
Japan vs England
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Japan vs England in Tokyo. Steve Borthwick’s side return to action for the first time since a promising end to the Six Nations with an encounter with a familiar foe in former boss, and Borthwick’s mentor, Eddie Jones, back in charge of Japan after a disastrous stint with Australia.
England are en route to New Zealand ahead of a two-Test tussle with the All Blacks, but will not be taking their eye off the ball against a dangerous home side. It’s set to be hot, humid and high-tempo - can Jones conjure a shock against his former side?
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