England vs Japan: Losing streak ends but questions remain

England delivered a confident display.

Tom Hamilton shares his thoughts on England ending their five-game losing streak with a 59-14 victory over Japan at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham. (1:15)

Tom Hamilton, Senior Writer November 24, 2024, 6:47 PM

England's victory against Japan carries mixed significance. For Steve Borthwick and his team, this match was a precarious balancing act, with some bookmakers rating them as strong favorites at 1/250 to win. A win was anticipated, while a loss would have been a total failure. Although their performance was commendable, resulting in a decisive 59-14 win, it’s important to note that Japan fielded a relatively inexperienced team, having already lost to England by 52 points back in June.

This victory holds significant importance for Borthwick and the England team. We must also recognize the remarkable assist provided by Tommy Freeman that led to George Furbank's try in the second half (more details on that to come). This win broke their streak of five consecutive losses and brings some much-needed positivity after a tough November, during which they were defeated by the All Blacks, Australia, and South Africa. While Storm Bert wreaked havoc across the UK, this match could potentially mark a turning point for England's prospects and serve as a launching pad for the upcoming Six Nations. However, despite the challenging weather conditions, this match had its challenges but left no room for excuses.

The match also had the added story of Eddie Jones making his comeback at Twickenham. However, you wouldn’t really know that. He avoided speaking to the media this week and hardly showed up on the big screen during the game. It felt as if he was being intentionally left out of the story. Yet, behind the scenes, Jones must have been marking this game as a big deal, looking to challenge the organization that let him go in December 2022.

Even though he hasn't been seen in public lately, he has remained a central topic of conversation regarding the match this past week. There’s a concern among some that he might have a strategy ready for England.

Ultimately, everything unfolded as expected. England dominated Japan in the first half, with Jamie George scoring two tries resulting from their effective rolling mauls. Their physical play helped them break through Japan’s defense, with Ollie Lawrence charging through their weak spots to set up Ben Earl for a try just nine minutes in. Sam Underhill added another five minutes later when he powered over the line. Sadly for Underhill, it turned out to be his last contribution of the match, as he exited due to an injury in what seemed like a perfect game for him.

George opened the scoring with his first try after 22 minutes. Tommy Freeman had one try disallowed due to a knock-on by Jack van Poortvliet. George then scored again in the 31st minute, followed by a lovely try from Ollie Sleightholme. Will Stuart passed to Chandler Cunningham-South, who then flicked the ball to Sleightholme, allowing him to slip it past Japan's advancing defense for the score. However, the highlight of the first half came from Japan, when Dylan Riley broke through and set up captain Naoto Saito, who weaved past Marcus Smith to score.

In the second half, Japan began with more energy, but everything changed just after the 52-minute mark when the game's standout moment occurred. Henry Slade picked up the ball just outside Japan's 22-meter line, made a quick kick forward, and Freeman managed to grab it near the sideline. Without looking, he passed the ball behind his back to George Furbank, who scored a try. Every time the replay was shown on the screen, the crowd reacted with audible gasps and cheers of admiration.

It's the kind of moment that kids will reenact on school playgrounds come Monday, perfectly capturing what Borthwick is aiming for with this England team.

Luke Cowan-Dickie scored two tries, and Tom Roebuck added another by expertly finishing a perfectly placed crosskick from Fin Smith. Kazuki Himeno managed to get a try for Japan, but overall, it was a successful day for Borthwick.

The true importance of this win will only become clear as time goes on. In the immediate aftermath, it provides some comfort by breaking a streak of losses and boosts morale. However, when reflecting on this autumn, you can't help but focus more on the close calls than on this impressive win. This is the level of expectation this group aims to meet.

England was on the verge of achieving a remarkable three wins out of four this autumn, especially after their matches with New Zealand and Australia. However, they just couldn't secure that standout victory. While their win against Japan was straightforward, it doesn't carry the same weight as a victory against powerhouse teams like the All Blacks or Springboks, considering Japan's current form and lack of experience. Ending the season with just one win out of four isn’t ideal, but today was focused on executing the game effectively and impressively. Anything less would have been unsatisfactory.

Sleightholme made a strong impression, and the hooker pair, George and Cowan-Dickie, were outstanding. Slade played confidently at inside center, and his collaboration with Lawrence seemed more effective than it has in the past.

Ultimately, the real importance of today will only become clear later on. England has matches against Ireland away and France at home to kick off the Six Nations. If they win these games, it could mark a turning point for them, signaling the start of their comeback. However, we won't truly understand if they are heading in a positive direction until time passes.

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