After what has felt like a bruising and painful autumn for England, there was finally some respite for Steve Borthwick as his side cruised past Japan with a 59-14 win. England have been involved in nail-biting finishes this month in defeats to Australia and New Zealand, but there was none of that here. In reality, this game was over within 15 minutes.
Borthwick’s side had two tries on the board by that stage, averaging a point a minute, and they finished the first-half 35-7 to the good. Japan were no match for England’s power and physicality, and even in the howling wind and rain the fans at Allianz Stadium could be calm their side would not blow this lead.
A victory for England ends a run of five straight defeats, however it came as no surprise. Japan have never beaten England, who thumped them 52-17 in the summer - which was the last time they had won a game until today. The returning Eddie Jones, who has kept a low profile this week due to illness, named an inexperienced team - and it showed.
England vs Japan latest news
- TRY! Cowan-Dickie with second off the bench
- TRY! Sleightholme gives England 35-7 lead at HT
- TRY! Saito gets Japan on the board
- TRY! George extends England advantage
- TRY! Underhill bundles over
- TRY! Earl gives England strong start
FT: England 59-14 Japan
17:54 , Matt VerriMatch finishes with a fumble in midfield, and that brings an end to 2024 for England.
The year finishes on a high not, Borthwick’s side swatting side Japan in comfortable fashion as expected.
Nine tries for England.
England 59-14 Japan
17:52 , Matt Verri79 mins: A minute to go, England with the lineout just over five metres out.
But it’s forward from Cowan-Dickie, who can’t believe it. Japan opt for the scrum.
England 59-14 Japan
17:49 , Matt Verri76 mins: Tatafu with the big pass out wide, Naikabula thinks he’s away but that was clearly forward.
Scrum is messy, needs to be reset. Doesn’t move at the second attempt, England can work it wide.
Smith opts to kick, though. Ball bobbles into the Japanese 22 and out.
England 59-14 Japan
17:45 , Matt Verri73 mins: England disrupt the lineout and turn the ball over. Not quite what Japan were looking for.
Clock is stopped, with Cowan-Dickie needing some treatment.
England 59-14 Japan
17:44 , Matt Verri72 mins: It’s Japan, though, who are on the attack. Penalty advantage in the England 22, flung out wide but it’s straight out of play.
Back for the penalty, kicked to the corner. 5m lineout to come.
England 59-14 Japan
17:42 , Matt Verri70 mins: How ruthless are England feeling in these final 10 minutes?
Japan are there for the taking, their race has long since been run.
TRY! England 57-14 Japan | Tom Roebuck 69'
17:41 , Matt VerriClever kick from Randall, puts Japan under pressure with a lineout deep in their own 22.
That pressure tells, England steal the lineout and here they come again.
Smith with a great kick out to Roebuck, steps inside and he’s too powerful. Cruises away and over for his first international try.
England 52-14 Japan
17:38 , Matt VerriEasy enough for Smith, who adds the extra couple of points.
This match has really opened up again, feel like there’s a few tries still left in it.
TRY! England 50-14 Japan | Luke Cowan-Dickie 65'
17:37 , Matt VerriRoebuck charges for the line... brought down a couple of metres out! Huge defence.
Feels like a matter of time though, England are right there.
And there is the try, Cowan-Dickie over from close-range for his second of the match.
TRY! England 45-14 Japan | Kazuki Himeno 62'
17:35 , Matt VerriSlick try for Japan!
Lovely offload sets it up, before Smith then does well as the last man to bring Osada down.
But Japan keep the quick ball going and there is plenty of space for them, as Himeno strolls over.
Simon Collings at Twickenham
17:32 , Matt VerriJapan managed to stop that maul, but they could not stop England scoring.
England's lineout has been slick today and so dominant.
England 45-7 Japan
17:31 , Matt VerriShould be a simple enough conversion for Smith... or not!
Smacks back off the post.
TRY! England 45-7 Japan | Luke Cowan-Dickie 60'
17:31 , Matt VerriMaul is brought down by Japan, just about do so legally.
But Cowan-Dickie just bulldozes his way through three Japanese defenders, spinning over the line.
England 40-7 Japan
17:30 , Matt Verri59 mins: England back in the Japanese 22, as Smith’s kick finds the corner perfectly. Lineout on the 5m line.
Another drive, or something a bit different from England?
England 40-7 Japan
17:28 , Matt Verri57 mins: Fin Smith is on for England, so looks like Marcus Smith has shifted to full-back.
Japan have started to drop off after a good start to this half. Handling errors continuing at a regular pace.
England 40-7 Japan
17:26 , Matt VerriSmith can’t make the conversion from out wide.
Opoku-Fordjour is on for debut at prop, huge excitement surrounding the 20-year-old.
TRY! England 40-7 Japan | George Furbank 54'
17:24 , Matt VerriBut that is STUNNING!
Slade with the kick through, Freeman gathers and flicks it out the back of his hand as he keeps himself in play.
Furbank gathers and dives over. Outrageous form Freeman.
England 35-7 Japan
17:23 , Matt Verri53 mins: Chance for England to do something as the ball is turned over, he has numbers out wide but kicks to touch instead.
Excitement levels not particularly high at the moment...
Simon Collings at Twickenham
17:22 , Matt VerriA bit of a lull in the game now, which could become the case throughout this half as England unload their bench.
England 35-7 Japan
17:20 , Matt Verri50 mins: Two England changes. Randall on at scrum-half for England, while Cowan-Dickie is on for George.
Huge cheers from the Japanese pack, as they win the scrum penalty. Celebrated like a try.
England 35-7 Japan
17:16 , Matt Verri47 mins: Great tackle from Smith, as Japan break out wide. They’ve been firmly on top this half.
But a couple of knock-ons letting them down, Freeman with the kick into space but it’s out on the full.
Back for the scrum.
England 35-7 Japan
17:13 , Matt Verri45 mins: Much better from Japan since half-time.
They win a penalty deep in England territory, kicked to the corner. Can they get the drive going?
No, Itoje up at the lineout and snatches it. Van Poortvliet again completes the clearing job.
England 35-7 Japan
17:11 , Matt Verri42 mins: Smith has to scramble back in his own corner to stop Naikabula diving on the loose ball for a try.
Brilliant kick from Van Poortvliet to get England out of their own 22 and up towards halfway.
Back underway!
17:09 , Matt VerriUp and running in the second-half.
Japan with something to cheer...
16:58 , Matt VerriSix tries in the match so far, with Japan probably producing the pick of them.
Not the greatest defending you’ll ever see, Riley taking full advantage to burst into space and put it on a plate for his captain.
🙌 Try of the day so far by @JRFURugby!
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) November 24, 2024
👏 Simple yet effective work and Saito is under the posts!#AutumnNationsSeries | #ENGvJAP pic.twitter.com/RXfq5ob5n2
HT: England 35-7 Japan
16:54 , Matt VerriEasy as you like for England in the opening 40 minutes.
Five tries, set up by a dominant display from the English pack. One bit of magic from Japan has got them on the board.
England 35-7 Japan
16:53 , Matt Verri40 mins: Rare trip to the England 22 for Japan, with what will near enough be the final play of the half.
But it all breaks down for them, Makisi with the neck roll on Stuart and England have the penalty.
Simon Collings at Twickenham
16:52 , Matt VerriI was completely wrong about the conditions having an impact.
Prop Will Stuart helped create that try by throwing a huge spin pass.
England 35-7 Japan
16:50 , Matt VerriCan Smith make it five from five with these conversions?
Yes he can. Drilled over from the left touchline.
TRY! England 33-7 Japan | Ollie Sleightholme 37'
16:50 , Matt VerriQuick hands from England in midfield, ball bobbles loose but George keeps them in possession.
It’s worked wide after great work from Lawrence... and finished superbly by Sleightholme!
Little kick through, he collects it himself and touches down.
Simon Collings at Twickenham
16:47 , Matt VerriEven some of the home fans cheered that, a glorious passage of play from Japan.
TRY! England 28-7 Japan | Naoto Saito 34'
16:47 , Matt VerriBrilliant try!
From near enough their own 22, Japan run it from one end to the other.
Riley leads the break, skips into the space and plays it inside for Saito, who has enough pace to get away from Smith.
Simon Collings at Twickenham
16:46 , Matt VerriOne thing to note is George Ford, whose not in the side today.
Still involved, though, bringing on the kicking tee for Smith and having a chat with a few players in the process.
England 28-0 Japan
16:45 , Matt VerriSmith adds the extras, England just on another level physically to Japan.
How ruthless do they want to be?
TRY! England 26-0 Japan | Jamie George 31'
16:44 , Matt VerriEngland once again walking towards the line, as Lawrence and Slade join the fun.
Five metres out, four, three, two, one... and over!
A second try of the match for George.
England 21-0 Japan
16:43 , Matt Verri30 mins: Japan with the try, 10 metres from their own line. Still under big pressure.
And they are launched back in a hurry, English pack completely dominant... penalty!
Smith kicks to the corner and here comes another drive, you’d imagine.
England 21-0 Japan
16:42 , Matt VerriSmith misses the conversion... but hang on.
TMO says there was potentially a knock-on in the build-up to the try. This could be chalked off.
It is indeed, Van Poortvliet the man penalised. We’ll call that quits for Underhill’s try.
TRY! England 26-0 Japan | Tommy Freeman 28'
16:39 , Matt VerriSmith gets England into the Japanese 22 with the kick to touch.
No maul this time, England try and work it through the hands this time. Lovely dummy from Smith, just about dragged down.
But it’s shipped wide and Freeman finishes well, diving over in the corner.
England 21-0 Japan
16:38 , Matt Verri27 mins: Knocked on by Japan, scrum for England just inside their own half.
These have been a bit messy so far and it’s another rest here, referee having a word with the Japanese front row.
Huge shove from England they win the penalty. All very easy for them at the minute.
Simon Collings at Twickenham
16:36 , Matt VerriJapan looking so inexperienced right now, getting monstered physically by England - and it's hard to see how they find any kind of answer.
England 21-0 Japan
16:35 , Matt VerriBit more of a test with the conversion this time for Smith, but that’s safely through the posts.
All going to plan so far for England.
TRY! England 19-0 Japan | Jamie George 23'
16:34 , Matt VerriPerfect kick from Smith, right in the corner. Lineout on the 5m line.
England piling bodies into this drive, not sure Japan have any hope of stopping this as it edges forward.
And they don’t - George at the back and he topples over for England’s third try!
England 14-0 Japan
16:33 , Matt Verri21 mins: Curry flattened off the ball, after a Smith dummy. Another advantage.
Slade wide to Freeman, England going nowhere and it’s back for the penalty. Japan’s discipline has been a problem for them already.
England 14-0 Japan
16:29 , Matt Verri18 mins: England look capable of scoring a try every time they move into Japan territory. Really good start to this match.
Here comes another maul, before Smith then tries to pop it up again for Lawrence. Knocked on this time.
England 14-0 Japan
16:27 , Matt VerriSmith makes no mistake with the conversion.
Replay would suggest Underhill wasn’t in control as he touched that down, looked to be separation between ball and hand.
England a bit lucky there.
TRY! England 12-0 Japan | Sam Underhill 14'
16:25 , Matt VerriJapan offside again, England advantage and they’re once again only three metres or so out.
Don’t need that advantage - Underhill not going to be stopped from there as he bulldozes his way over the line.
England 7-0 Japan
16:24 , Matt Verri13 mins: George bundling his way towards the line, just about hauled down a couple of metres out.
It’s then intercepted, but referee penalises Japan for offside. George asking whether that should have been a penalty try... just a penalty.
Smith knocks it into the corner.
Simon Collings at Twickenham
16:22 , Matt VerriThat should do it. Lovely play from England and some proper invention in the backline, too, with Slade at first receiver and Smith playing off him.
More of that, please.
TRY! England 7-0 Japan | Ben Earl 9'
16:21 , Matt VerriEngland up and running!
They have the penalty advantage and make the most of it. Ruthless.
Lawrence with a great line as Smith picks him out, Earl on his inside and the forward goes over under the posts.
Simplest of conversions for Smith.
Simon Collings at Twickenham
16:20 , Matt VerriBit of a weird atmosphere, here. A sort of low rumble going around the crowd, almost like they are at the cricket.
England need to find a way to get them going.
England 0-0 Japan
16:17 , Matt Verri6 mins: Van Poortvliet not moving well at all, he’s limping from ruck to ruck.
Japan win it back as the ball goes loose, there’s a lot of space out wide and the kick to Naikabula is a good one. He tries to boot it on, as the ball skids on, but can’t control the kick.
Better bounce and Japan were in.
England 0-0 Japan
16:15 , Matt Verri5 mins: Penalty advantage for Japan, after Earl doesn’t roll away. They go back to it, as the attack stalls.
Saito points to the posts, he’s going to have a go at this from about five metres inside the England half.
And it’s nowhere near. Saito pulls it a long way left, wind not helping him.
England 0-0 Japan
16:12 , Matt Verri2 mins: Terrible penalty from Japan, they fail to find touch and England can put the pressure right back on.
Sleightholme’s kick is a decent one, Matsunaga desperately trying to see it out of play... and the ball just about bobbles long and to safety from his perspective.
Scrum for Japan all the way back on halfway.
KICK-OFF!
16:10 , Matt VerriWe’re underway for the final time in 2024!
Here we go!
16:05 , Matt VerriTeams are out onto the pitch at Twickenham on a fairly miserable afternoon.
Rain has eased off, but still plenty of wind around. Going to be tricky conditions.
All smiles between Jones and Marler
16:01 , Matt VerriEddie Jones not doing the pre-match interview, either.
He has been on the pitch though and bumps into Joe Marler on the touchline - big smiles and a hug between the two of them.
No sign of Jones catching up with Danny Care yet...
England not delivering under pressure
15:54 , Matt Verri“England are not getting enough of the pressure moments right,” says Courtney Lawes ahead of kick-off.
He’s not wrong. England held late leads against Australia and New Zealand, letting it slip both times, and then could not match the ruthless streak of South Africa.
Something that has to improve, but it would be a concern in itself if England do find themselves under late pressure this afternoon against Japan. Has to be a comfortable win.
Simon Collings at Twickenham
15:49 , Matt VerriIt's absolutely lashing it down here, now, which is going to make for an interesting game.
This felt like a chance for England to put on a show in attack, but I am not sure they can in this.
Elsewhere today...
15:44 , Matt VerriScotland have ended the year on a high, easing to a 27-13 win over Australia at Murrayfield.
The Wallabies have beaten England and Wales this autumn, but they could not extend the unbeaten run.
They now travel to Dublin next weekend.
🏴 Supersonic @ScotlandTeam defence right at the last!#AutumnNationsSeries | #SCOvAUS pic.twitter.com/GmHl6nPMFH
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) November 24, 2024
Borthwick: RFU behind me
15:37 , Matt VerriSteve Borthwick believes he has the “absolute support” of the RFU despite five defeats on the bounce.
South Africa ran out 29-20 winners at Allianz Stadium last weekend to consign England to their third defeat of this Autumn Nations Series.
The defeat was also the fifth Test that England have lost on the spin, which makes it their worst run since 2018. England’s win percentage under Borthwick has slipped to below 50 per cent.
Borthwick, however, believes he retains the support of the RFU and he is confident results will improve in the future.
“I am not going to be talking about private conversations with you here,” Borthwick said, when asked if he was worried about being give time to turn things around.
“And I think what is actually more important is the feeling that I get. The feeling I get from the RFU is one of absolute support and absolute belief that this team is going in the right direction. That is something I get from everybody at the RFU.”
Simon Collings at Twickenham
15:31 , Matt VerriEngland need a win... and a convincing one at that.
"England need a performance to lift the mood... the defeats have sucked some of the energy out of the fans."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) November 24, 2024
🗣 @sr_collings gives his pre-match thoughts ahead of a big afternoon for Steve Borthwick's side.
LIVE: https://t.co/q3eVNMUtpd #ENGvJPN pic.twitter.com/FX0Wc2gv1n
Jones in the building!
15:19 , Matt VerriHe is said to have been dealing with illness this week, but no surprise that we now have it confirmed Eddie Jones has made a recovery.
The Australia arrived at the Allianz Stadium with the Japanese squad a short while ago.
He was never going to miss this...
Hatley backs Jones amid accusations
15:10 , Matt VerriEddie Jones has come under intense scrutiny for his management style in recent weeks.
Danny Care said in his autobiography 'Everything Happens for a Reason', released earlier this month, that "everyone was bloody terrified of him".
The former England scrum-half added that Jones' England environment was "like living in a dictatorship”. Danny Cipriani, another England international, backed up Care's view in a recent interview.
Protocol dictates that teams should perform all media duties in person, but Japan have only been available online this week, with Jones not involved due to illness..
Japan assistant Neal Hatley has worked under Jones with England, Australia and now Japan and the scrum specialist does not recognise the allegations made against his boss.
"You vote with your feet and this is the third time I have had an opportunity to work with him and it is the third time I have jumped at it," Hatley said.
"I have enjoyed working with him immensely. He challenges me daily to be the best version I can be of myself and get the best version of the players. I have enjoyed my time immensely - it was a no-brainer for me."
Plenty of Twickenham heartbreak...
15:00 , Matt VerriIt’s been a frustrating autumn for England.
In the match against South Africa, could have beaten New Zealand... should have beaten Australia.
That is the one that will really sting when England look back on this series of matches.
In the building!
14:50 , Matt VerriThe hosts have arrived at Twicke... sorry, the Allianz Stadium.
.@J_George2 leads in the team 🏠@ContiUK | #ENGvJAP pic.twitter.com/Ucy8y0rS5Z
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 24, 2024
Opoku-Fordjour to lift the mood?
14:40 , Matt VerriThe most exciting piece of team news today is the inclusion of prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour on the bench.
The 20-year-old is in line to make his debut against Japan and, if anyone can lift the mood, it is him.
Opoku-Fordjour is a rare breed. He can scrum down on either side of the front row, while he has shown to be a dangerous ball carrier in the loose.
There are not many 18stone blokes who can side step like Opoku-Fordjour. In fact, there are not many 18stone blokes who can side step full stop, if we are being honest.
“He is doing things that I haven’t seen 18 or 19 year olds do before,” Alex Sanderson, Sale Sharks director of rugby, said towards the end of last year.
“That’s just in the scrum and then you look at his power. He is a prop with fast twitch, a tighthead with fast twitch. You just don’t get them. They are as rare as teddy bear s**t.
“Where is his limit? I don’t think we have even seen it yet. We are making that noise about him because I think he deserves it.”
The hype around Opoku-Fordjour will ramp up if he takes his club form onto the international stage.
Jones expected to be in attendance
14:31 , Matt VerriJapan are confident that head coach Eddie Jones will be present at Allianz Stadium this afternoon, despite missing Friday's online team announcement press conference because of a cold.
Jones, who was in charge of England from 2015 to 2022, pulled out of his media duties for the day for health reasons, leaving assistant coach Neal Hatley to field questions on the side picked for the climax to the autumn.
"Eddie will be there with bells on. You've known him long enough to know he's not missing this. It's just a precaution. He'll be fine for the weekend, no problems," Hatley said.
"He's unbelievably passionate about improving this Japanese team. He couldn't be more excited about coming to Twickenham. He looks forward to every game."
Head-to-head record
14:23 , Matt VerriJapan have never beaten England in men’s rugby union and lost 52-17 in the last meeting between the two sides in Tokyo over the summer.
England have won all previous 10 matches, including a 34-12 victory in the pool stage of last year’s World Cup in France and a 52-13 thrashing at Twickenham in November 2022. They had to come from behind to win 35-15 on home soil in the autumn of 2018.
England wins: 10
Japan wins: 0
Draws: 0
Standard Sport prediction
14:15 , Matt VerriThere is no sugarcoating it - England simply have to win today, and they have to win well.
Despite actually having played some impressive rugby - led by the fantastic Marcus Smith - both in the summer and so far in the autumn, they continue to let themselves down massively in the small details and fine margins that is costing them time and time again.
Their game management in the final quarter has been woeful and has to improve if results are to follow suit and the pressure on Borthwick begin to ease.
Defeat at home to a Japan team managed by Eddie Jones of all people to cap off a nightmare run of results would be quite simply unthinkable, particularly with another Six Nations campaign moving quickly into view.
England to win, by 25 points.
Japan team news
14:08 , Matt VerriJapan will be without New Zealand-born lock Warner Dearns, whose red card for a high tackle against Uruguay was upheld when he appeared before an independent disciplinary committee on Wednesday.
Dearns was handed a four-match suspension, meaning he will play no part at Twickenham.
Japan XV: Matsunaga; Osada, Riley, Fifita, Naikabula; McCurran, Saito (c); Okabe, Harada, Takeuchi; Waqa, Uluiviti; Shimokawa, Himeno, Makisi
Replacements: Lee, Morikawa, Tamefusa, Akiyama, Tatafu, Gunter, Fujiwara, Kajimura
England team news
14:00 , Matt VerriEngland have welcomed back Tom Curry this week after he suffered his second concussion of the season against Australia and missed the defeat by the Springboks.
He replaced Charlie Ewels in Borthwick’s squad, while the injured Elliot Daly made way for Harlequins wing Cadan Murley, who starred with two tries as England ‘A’ beat their Australian counterparts 38-17 at The Stoop last weekend.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has not been cleared to return from his own concussion sustained against the Wallabies and will miss out again.
Borthwick made four changes against South Africa, with Sam Underhill and Ollie Sleightholme replacing Curry and Feyi-Waboso, and Jack van Poortvliet and Freddie Steward preferred to Ben Spencer and George Furbank at scrum-half and full-back respectively.
This week, Curry and Furbank both return, with Chandler Cunningham-South dropping to the bench as Curry goes to blindside flanker and Steward is omitted entirely. Van Poortvliet and Sleightholme both keep their places.
20-year-old Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour is poised to make his Test debut off the bench as veteran Dan Cole drops out, while George Ford is replaced by Fin Smith as fly-half cover.
England XV: Furbank; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; M Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George (c), Stuart; Itoje, Martin; T Curry, Underhill, Earl
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Opoku-Fordjour, Isiekwe, Cunningham-South, Randall, F Smith, Roebuck
How to watch England vs Japan
13:50TV channel: In the UK, England vs Japan is being broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage beginning at 3:45pm GMT ahead of a 4.10pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the action live online via the Discovery+ website and app.
Live blog: Follow all the action right here, featuring analysis from Simon Collings at Twickenham.
Good afternoon!
13:41 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of England vs Japan!
Steve Borthwick’s side know nothing but a win will do as they bring an end to the Autumn Nations Series, having lost to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in recent weeks.
Another defeat here and the pressure on Borthwick would be absolutely huge... and particularly painful with Eddie Jones in the opposite corner this afternoon.
We’ll have all the latest updates and build-up ahead of kick-off, which comes at 4:10pm GMT from the Allianz Stadium.
