England’s rugby team significantly broke their five-match losing streak with an emphatic 59-14 victory over Japan at Allianz Stadium, marking a positive conclusion to their Autumn Nations series. The match saw standout performances from Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie, each scoring two tries, while additional tries from Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ollie Sleightholme, George Furbank, and Tom Roebuck emphasized England’s dominance throughout the game. The hosts demonstrated their strength early on, with three tries scored within the first 25 minutes as they exploited their advantages at the lineout. Despite a momentary setback when a try from Tommy Freeman was denied after a TMO review, George soon added to the score, bringing the lead to 28-0 before Japan could respond.
Japan managed to break through with a counterattack led by Naoto Saito just before halftime, but England quickly countered with a try from Sleightholme, ending the half at 35-7. The second half saw England continuing their strong performance, highlighted by a creative pass from Freeman that enabled Furbank to score. Cowan-Dickie added another two tries, while Japan’s Kazuki Himeno scored a consolation try. Ultimately, Roebuck rounded off the scoring with his first international try, ensuring England’s victory was both decisive and uplifting after three November defeats.
Steve Borthwick, England’s head coach, was eager to see a resounding response from his players in this match, particularly after a difficult streak. The presence of former coach Eddie Jones at the stadium added another layer of narrative to the game. England capitalized on this opportunity to showcase their skills, effectively placing pressure on a struggling Japanese side that has now lost its last twelve encounters with European nations. This match served as a crucial turning point for England, giving them a much-needed boost of confidence heading into the upcoming Six Nations campaign.
Highlighting individual performances, Ollie Sleightholme emerged as the Player of the Match due to his remarkable play, which included a clever punting maneuver to secure his try and demonstrating composure under pressure. This match marked a pivotal moment in Sleightholme’s nascent international career, as he became only the second player after his father, Jon, to score four tries for England in five Tests. Other notable contributions came from Marcus Smith, who not only scored two tries but also successfully converted seven of eight attempts, surpassing Charlie Hodgson to become eighth on England’s all-time scoring list.
The match’s sequence of tries began quickly, showcasing England’s aggressive style of play focused on dominating possession. The team employed effective rucking and passing to create scoring opportunities and exploit Japan’s defensive weaknesses. Each try illustrated the tactical proficiency of the England players as they executed set pieces and open play with precision. The ability to respond to Japan’s rare moments of success further demonstrated England’s resilience and depth in talent, as they regularly found ways to counter and dominate the game.
Statistically, Jamie George’s achievement of matching Dylan Hartley as England’s joint most-capped hooker (97 caps) was a significant highlight, and the win against Japan intensified England’s historical dominance over their rivals, maintaining a perfect record with eleven consecutive wins. Additionally, Japan’s recent struggles were notable, as they had conceded over twenty points in their last fourteen matches, reflecting a concerning trend for the team. As the rugby world looks ahead to the Six Nations, England will aim to build on this victory and address areas for improvement while fully harnessing the momentum gained from their comprehensive win against Japan.
