England vs Japan: Losing streak ends but questions remain

England’s win over Japan means all the things and nothing. It was a kind of nasty tightrope matches for Steve Borthwick’s facet the place they have been 1/250 to triumph with sure bookmakers. Win? Anticipated. Defeat? Catastrophe. So whereas this was a powerful efficiency and a convincing 59-14 victory, it was towards an inexperienced Japan facet, one England caught 52 factors on in June.

However this can imply all the things to Borthwick and England, and we bought to understand Tommy Freeman’s unbelievable help for George Furbank’s second-half rating (extra on that later). This victory snapped their five-match shedding run and provides some gloss to a disappointing November after they fell to the All Blacks, Australia and South Africa. As Storm Bert brought about havoc within the UK, this match might but sign a wind of change for England’s fortunes and a springboard to take into the Six Nations. However amid the blustery circumstances and the wind and the rain, this was a match with caveats however no room for excuses.

The conflict additionally got here with the subplot of it being Eddie Jones’ return to Twickenham. However you would not realize it. He is ducked media duties this week, and barely appeared on the stadium display in the course of the match. It was like he was being erased from the narrative. However within the shadows, Jones would have caught a huge ring round this fixture, little doubt desirous to bloody the nostril of the organisation who sacked him in December 2022.

Regardless of his absence from public sight, he nonetheless featured closely within the discuss across the match over the previous week, a worry in some quarters that he had a plan up his sleeve for England.

However ultimately it performed to script. England outmuscled Japan within the first half, Jamie George scoring two tries off the again of rolling mauls, whereas they have been in a position to make use of their physicality to punch holes in Japan’s defence. Ollie Lawrence powered via Japan’s paper-thin defence to stay Ben Earl beneath the posts after 9 minutes, Sam Underhill then crashed over 5 minutes later. Sadly for Underhill, in a match which appeared tailormade for him, that was his closing act as he left with harm.

George scored the primary of his two after 22 minutes, Tommy Freeman then had one dominated out for a Jack van Poortvliet knock-on, George grabbed one other within the 31 minute after which Ollie Sleightholme scored a pleasant effort, as Will Stuart’s go discovered Chandler Cunningham-South who flung it to Sleightholme who nudged the ball previous Japan’s on-rushing defence to dot down. However the perfect effort within the first half was from Japan — the place Dylan Riley’s break put captain Naoto Saito away, and he danced previous Marcus Smith to attain.

The second half noticed Japan begin the higher, however after 52 minutes got here the second of the match and a spotlight reel. Henry Slade took the ball simply outdoors Japan’s 22, kicked via, and Freeman caught the ball close to the touchline, however flung the ball behind his again to George Furbank to dot down. Every time the replay was proven on the display, it introduced the oohs and aahs of appreciation from the gang.

It’s the form of second that kids will attempt on college playgrounds on Monday, and the right snapshot of what Borthwick is making an attempt to get this England workforce to depict.

Luke Cowan-Dickie grabbed two tries whereas Tom Roebuck scored after he completed off brilliantly from a pinpoint Fin Smith crosskick. Kazuki Himeno scored for Japan, however total this was a passable afternoon for Borthwick.

However the query of how vital this victory is will solely be decided in time. Within the short-term, this brings some reduction because it ends the shedding run; it additionally manifests confidence, however nonetheless you come away from this autumn pondering extra in regards to the near-misses than you do that commanding victory. That is the requirements this group wish to be judged by.

England got here so near this being a three-out-of-four autumn, given how the New Zealand and Australia matches completed however the assertion victory eluded them. Sure this was comfy towards Japan, however given their inexperience and up to date type, the win lacks the identical gravitas as a conquer the All Blacks or Springboks would. One-out-of-four is suboptimal, however at present was about getting the job completed and in fashion. Nothing else would’ve been acceptable.

Sleightholme impressed, whereas the hooker duo George and Cowan-Dickie have been very good. Slade was additionally assured at inside centre and his partnership with Lawrence appeared stronger than it has beforehand completed.

However total, the true significance of at present will solely be judged in time. England face Eire away and France at residence to start out the Six Nations. Win these, and England are again on monitor, and this shall be seen because the foundational second for his or her resurgence. However solely in time will we all know if they’re on an upwards trajectory.

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