5 Players Who Impressed: England 59 – 14 Japan – Autumn Nations Series
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After a disappointing Autumn of defeats to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, England fans erupted into full-time cheers after an impressive win against Japan. England cruised to a victory over Eddie Jones’ side, for their first win since their trip to Tokyo in June. England powered over for nine tries against the Brave Blossoms, who never kicked into second gear in the 59-14 landslide.
MATCH REPORT: ENGLAND 59 – 14 JAPAN
Japan squandered their opportunity for an early lead, as fly half Nicholas McCurran scuffed a penalty that would have upset the hosts. England were over for their first try after just nine minutes, as Ben Earl supported the impressive line break from Ollie Lawrence. Fellow back rower Sam Underhill extended England’s lead four minutes later despite dubious replays highlighting a potential knock on. Underhill drove over the whitewash from close range as England really hit their stride.
England wing Tommy Freeman had a try disallowed despite a dramatic mid-air finish. Jack van Poortvleit knocked on the ball in a proceeding try, yet England did not have to wait long to cross the try-line once again. Captain Jamie George pushed the England maul over from back-to-back set-piece scores, before Japan rallied back with a try from their scrum half Naoto Saito. A stunning kick-chase finish from Ollie Sleightholme rounded off the first half scoring, as England took a staggering 35-7 lead into the half-time break.
Tommy Freeman showcased an outrageous piece of skill for England’s first try of the second half, as he sent the ball back inside with a ’round-the-back’. The ball went back i-field and found George Furbank in open space for the audacious try. England’s forward momentum rolled on, with replacement hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie bundling over to score off the back of a maul, just before the hour mark.
Japan rallied back two minutes later, as Kazuki Himeno supported a line break to score in open space. Cowan-Dickie would take England back down the opposite end for his brace, as England hit the half-century mark just 65 minutes into the match. Tom Roebuck then lit up the Allianz for his first try in England colours, as he collected Fin Smith’s cross field kick and glided past two Japan tacklers on his way to the try-line.
5 PLAYERS WHO IMPRESSED: ENGLAND 59-14 JAPAN
1. Ollie Lawrence (England)
Ollie Lawrence was excellent for England this afternoon, with his outing against Japan being his best performance of the Autumn. The midfielder looked like he had something to prove, and was bouncing off Cherry Blossom shirts with multiple heavy carries. Lawrence made the initial key line break that split the Japan defense open, before finding Ben Earl for England’s first try.
Lawrence made magic out of nothing to keep the ball alive, in the build up to England’s final try of the first half. The center skipped past two Japan tackle attempts before offloading the ball in contact to Ben Earl. The possession was then shipped out wide to Ollie Sleightholme, and the Northampton wing scored off his own kick-chase.
2. Jamie George (England)
There was plenty of discussion in the week regarding Jamie George’s strong influence upon England, as his side capitulated to three defeats after he had been substituted off. George’s leadership was showcased against Japan, as the hooker commanded the forward pack to power over Japan’s try-line, with George grounding the rolling mauls for two first half tries.
Despite leaving the pitch at the 47th minute, George’s impact upon the match was a considerable one that took him into the top performers of the match. There is an honourable mention to England’s replacement hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, as the Sale man kept the attacking tempo high, and crossed over for two close ranges tries of his own.
3. Ben Earl (England)
Ben Earl kicked England into top gear for this straight-forward win, with the back row opening up the checkbook of the high-scoring attack. The Saracen demanded the ball as he supported Ollie Lawrence’s early line break, and showed-off his impressive pace as he wheeled away to score under the posts. Earl approved of his own try with a satirical ‘double thumbs up’, celebration, that may have been a jab at the recent criticism England had received this Autumn.
Earl would dig in his heels to make short and sharp carries over the Cherry Blossom’s gain-line, and he was also involved in the build up play to Ollie Sleightholme’s impressive try along the left touchline. Earl was a workhorse at the set-piece, and was ever-present in England’s rolling mauls, that caused plenty of problems for the Japanese pack to defend.
4. Naoto Saito (Japan)
Whilst it was a difficult day for Japan, there were some gems of shining light to break the darkness. One such talent was scrum half Naoto Saito who popped up time and again to keep the electric tempo of this match ticking over. The halfback was ever present at the breakdown’s for the Brave Blossoms and was not afraid to snipe around the back of a ruck to catch the English defence off guard.
It was also Saito who scored Japan’s first try to halt the one-way traffic, as he ran a strong supporting line on the shoulder of Dylan Riley. The centre is well worth an honourable mention in his effort at the Allianz, with his dummy fake selling George Furbank in the build-up to his scrum-half’s score. Saito would be replaced by Shinobu Fujiwara, and the intensity of Eddie Jones’ attack noticeably depleted. Perhaps it was the ever-mounting score-board that demoralised the pace of Japan’s go forward, but the Blossoms certainly missed Saito when he was withdrawn.
5) Ollie Sleightholme (England)
All of England’s back three flyers starred in the high scoring win, yet it was Ollie Sleightholme that took home the plaudits as Player of the Match. Sleightholme continued upon his meteoric rise as England’s starting wing, after earning his first hit out from kick off last weekend against the Springboks. Sleightholme continues to maximise his minutes in the enforced injury absence of Manny Feyi-Waboso, with a well taken try along the left wiung the highlight of his stunning outing this afternoon.
Sleightholme’s Northampton teammate is also well worthy of an honourable mention, as Tommy Freeman stole the spotlight with an outrageous try assist for his fellow Saint’s try, as George Furbank got on the score-sheet. Furthermore, Tom Roebuck stepped up to secure his first England try, and Marcus Smith impressed upon his transition to fullback, following the long awaited introduction of Fin Smith as the replacement fly half.
Sleightholme also impressed upon the defensive foot, as he neutralised the high-flying threats that cascaded along the touch-line.
SQUADS AND SCORERS: ENGLAND 59 – 14 JAPAN
ENGLAND: 59
Tries: 9 (Earl 9′, Underhill 13′, George 23′, 31′, Sleightholme 36′, Furbank 54′, Cowan-Dickie 59′, 65′ Roebuck 69′)
Conversions: 7 (Smith 9′, 13′, 23′, 31′, 36′, 65′, 69′)
Penalties: 0
Drop Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
15. George Furbank 14. Tommy Freeman 13. Ollie Lawrence 12. Henry Slade 11. Ollie Sleightholme 10. Marcus Smith 9. Jack van Poortvleit 1. Ellis Genge 2. Jamie George 3. Will Stuart 4. Maro Itoje 5. George Martin 6. Tom Curry 7. Sam Underhill 8. Ben Earl
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie 17. Fin Baxter 18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 19. Nick Isiekwe 20. Chandler Cunningham-South 21. Harry Randall 22. Fin Smith 23. Tom Roebuck
JAPAN: 14
Tries: 2 (Saito 35′, Himeno 62′)
Conversions: 2 (Saito 35′, Osada 62′)
Penalties: 0
Drop Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
15. Takuro Matsunaga 14. Tomoki Osada 13. Dylan Reily 12. Siosaia Fifita 11. Jone Nakiabula 10. Nicholas McCurran 9. Naoto Saito 1. Takato Okabe 2. Mamoru Harada 3. Shuhei Takeuchi 4. Sanaila Waqa 5. Epineeri Uluiviti 6. Kanji Shimokawa 7. Kazuki Himeno 8. Faulua Makisi
16. Kenta Matsuoka 17. Yukio Morikawa 18. Keijuro Tamefusa 19. Daichi Akiyama 20. Tevita Tatafu 21. Ben Gunter 22. Shinobu Fujiwara 23. Yusuke Kajimura
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