Rejuvenated England run in eight tries to thrash Japan and open tour in style

England's next challenge in New Zealand will be tough, but they are currently feeling confident after their successful stop in Tokyo. They played well against Japan, scoring eight tries and showing their skill on both offense and defense. Eddie Jones's young team is proving to be a formidable opponent for anyone they face.

Jones probably saw how the team he left behind in late 2022 looked tired and exhausted, while the team he faced on the field seemed revived and enthusiastic. There were many players who stood out during the warm and humid afternoon, especially scrum-half Alex Mitchell, and the Harlequins duo Marcus Smith and Chandler Cunningham-South.

The first player got his first goal for England while the second player scored one very strong goal and helped with two others before getting injured in the second half and being sent off. Japan did score a couple of goals in the last part of the game, but the visitors were clearly better, even with all the substitutions and the red card for Charlie Ewels.

Ewels will be extremely disappointed, as he has now made history by being the first player to receive two red cards while playing for England. This unfortunate milestone occurred during the Six Nations match against Ireland at Twickenham in 2022. In the game against Japan in Tokyo, Ewels was on the field for less than five minutes before he was sent off for losing his balance and taking out the Japan captain, Michael Leitch, as he attempted to make a tackle at a breakdown.

Thankfully, Leitch was able to avoid serious injury by moving his leg quickly, but Ewels may be banned, which will require some changes to the squad. Overall, England managed to get through their two-Test series against the All Blacks without any major injuries, aside from Smith experiencing some cramping due to the hot weather.

In the middle of the day, it was extremely hot, but luckily some light clouds came to provide some relief for the players. Although it was still humid, with temperatures reaching nearly 30C, this was exactly the tough weather conditions Jones had wanted England to face.

In addition, Japan had five players making their debut in the starting lineup and they started the game very energetically. Their fast-paced style of rugby, called 'Chosoku', can be difficult to maintain but when executed well, it is truly a sight to behold. Quick passes and skillful offloads created problems for England's defenders, causing them to struggle to keep up. Only a few mistakes and turnovers stopped Japan from scoring more points after Lee Seung-sin's early penalty.

England had to step up their game, and when they did, their luck turned around. Mitchell and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso put the Japan defense to the test and, under mounting pressure, Cunningham-South powered over from a short distance. If the large back-rower can stay healthy, we can expect to see many more impressive tries in the future.

The second attempt by the visitors was much more impressive, as they executed a well-practiced play flawlessly. Jamie George made a precise long throw over the lineout to Ollie Lawrence, who caught it perfectly as he ran forward. Mitchell then passed the ball to Smith, who was almost 40 meters away. The fly-half quickly noticed the open space and took advantage of it with a quick right-foot step.

It came as no shock that Smith played a part in England's third try right before the thirty-minute mark, making a long pass to Feyi-Waboso who scored on the right side while advantage was being played. This demonstrated England's growing skill in challenging their opponents in various ways until their weaknesses were exposed.

They have many different abilities, which was shown right before the break when Smith looked up and kicked a perfectly placed cross towards the right corner. Slade then leaped up skillfully to score, giving England a strong 26-3 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, Japan's new players experienced the tough competition of Test rugby. Mitchell made a successful dummy move to score a try and also set up Ben Earl's try with a clever pass. Harry Randall came in for Mitchell and found a gap to score England's seventh try. Then, England relied on their strength as Sam Underhill pushed his way over for their fiftieth point.

The respectful audience at the home stadium, though there were many seats left empty, were at least able to enjoy a few late goals from Koga Nezuka and Takuya Yamasawa. Earlier in the game, a potential penalty was denied when Smith took out a defender and received a yellow card. England's penalty count reached 17 by the end of the game, which was higher than preferred, but their aggressive defense and quick recoveries were effective. Earl even had a chance to play at inside centre for a few minutes. Despite Ewels leaving the game prematurely, the coaching staff should be pleased with the team's performance.

The England players had a great time off the field this week, relaxing in onsens, watching baseball games, visiting a high school, and meeting sumo wrestlers. While the historic north v south tours may be ending with the new Nations Championship in 2026, it's always beneficial to immerse oneself in different cultures. The team is now headed to New Zealand, where a unique rugby experience is expected.