England fend off Japan as Steward and Lawes among scorers in World Cup win

Borthwick reviews England win

He said on ITV: "It was a good game against a really good Japan team. We knew we would get the rewards if we kept doing the right things. I'm delighted for the players and the supporters out there. We want to make sure they enjoy it and have some good nights.

"The players have got to find a way to get the result. You saw a Japan team who kicked the ball 37 times, which tells you a lot about the conditions tonight. Whatever the plan was from the start, the players need to adapt and get the result.

"We will have a good debrief of this game. The first thing is for the players to enjoy this win. and then we have six days until we play Chile."

Captain's comments

Lawes told the BBC: "Full credit to Japan. We knew they would put up a fight. It was so greasy but we did well to come away with five points so I can’t ask for much more.

"That was a decent header from Joe Marler, sometimes the luck falls in your favour so I will take it.

"We wanted to play good rugby but conditions were tough. We saw what we wanted to do but we will stick with it."

We won't see another try like this at the World Cup

"It's a bit comedy of errors" @dallaglio8 reacts to Joe Marler's assist for Lawes's try!#RWC2023 | #ENGvJPN pic.twitter.com/vPYTJ0QibH

— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 17, 2023

The England fly-half has spoken

He told the BBC: "We are just really happy with another win tonight. We knew it was going to be tough and Japan challenge you in different ways. We knew it would be that third or fourth quarter we could pull away a bit but we are delighted to get the win.

"It was probably not the prettiest watching it. It's really hard to play with the ball in these conditions. These late kick-offs are dead greasy but we got there in the end."

Ford MOTM once more

He didn't hit the heights of last week, but he was still named as England's standout player.

Borthwick changes half of England team for Six Nations opener against Scotland

NICE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 17: George Ford of England reacts during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between England and Japan at Stade de Nice on September 17, 2023 in Nice, France. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

What's next for England?

We take on Chile in six days time in Lille.

A week later, in the same city, England face Samoa.

On paper, the two most challenging games look to be behind us, so hopefully England can build towards the knockouts.

The bonus point score

FULL-TIME: England 34-12 Japan

That is that.

First-half poor, but it did certainly improve and there are elements of England's game that they can take on into next week against Chile, when they'll be expected to win well.

The attack remains the biggest problem, but Borthwick and co have time to build.

THERE IT IS!

Marchant crosses over!

The Ford-Smith dynamic has worked really well for the last few minutes. They work well to an edge, May goes close, before they come back to the middle and Marchant runs a lovely line.

Last chance for England here..

England kick to the corner, less than two minutes to go.

Final chance here to land that fourth try.

England 27-12 Japan

Less than five minutes to go and Japan continue to show plenty of spirit.

They've threatened ball in hand, but ultimately just not had that cutting edge.

England need to get a wiggle on if they want the five points.

England 27-12 Japan

A serious missed opportunity. England are camped a metre or two out but continue to pick and go.

Eventually they give away and penalty and the chance of a bonus point is gone, for now.

Far too predictable from England as they continue to play one out rugby.

Changes for England

Few mores changes here. Lawrence comes on for Tuilagi and Smith comes on for Steward, meaning he continues to tuck into a fullback role.

England 27-12 Japan - TRY FOR STEWARD!

England have a scrum five metres out and quickly find themselves with advantage and Ford shows excellent composure to kick to the corner and it is Steward, England's aerial master, who catches and dots down.

It hasn't been convincing, but one more for the bonus point.

England 20-12 Japan

A little glimmer of light as England show some promise in Japan's 22.

A kick over the top from Ford almost fines Marchant and then, shortly after, the fly-half carries the ball and the gap opens up, but he's bought down 5m out.

Stuart then knocks it on, but much better from England.

Ref language

This is how a ref communicates to his assistant that he "thinks its come off his head"...

NICE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 17: Referee Nika Amashukeli discusses the legitimacy of England's second try after the ball hits Joe Marler of England on the head in the build up during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between England and Japan at Stade de Nice on September 17, 2023 in Nice, France. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

England 20-12 Japan

Youngs is on for Mitchell at scrum-half, hopefully to bring some much needed experience.

England are more than a score ahead for the first time and need to manage this.

Japan continue to maintain belief and, if they get a try, their tails will firmly be up.

England 20-12 Japan

Japan produce the best attacking two minutes of the game.

Their backs produce some stunning running lines, stepping English defenders as they ease up the field, but on both occasions individual errors curtail their efforts.

England 20-12 Japan - TRY FOR LAWES

Well, this is bonkers. It sort of sums up the England attack really.

Stuart can't catch Ford's pass, but it goes backwards, hits Marler in the head and Lawes catches it and runs in under the post.

Ford adds the extras and the lead is back out to eight.

England 13-12 Japan

Japan are back to within one after they get a breakdown penalty 30m out, right in front of the posts.

The ball sails through. We have a serious game on here.

We're still waiting for England to kick into gear here... not that we know what gear they can go up to.

The only try of the game so far

Power game

Lewis Ludlam goes over for England's first try of this year's Rugby World Cup, and their first World Cup try since the semi-final match against New Zealand in 2019.#RWC2023 | #ENGvJPN pic.twitter.com/ELRXoDmXPF

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 17, 2023

Enter Vunipola

Hello Billy Vunipola.

He's one of several new faces with Stuart also on, replacing Sinckler.

England 13-9 Japan

Another attacking position, another kick away. Needless to say it came to nothing.

People say there's a negativity around English rugby - you wonder why.

Jeers continue to ring around the stadium in Nice whenever England put boot to ball.

Game remains in the balance and it is definitely Japan who are willing to show more ambition.

England 13-9 Japan

A really smart move from Ford sees him kick over the top of the defensive line, freeing May to scamper away. Mitchell then tackes England to within 10m, but a knock on ends their attacking phase. Indecision remains a problem and Japan can clear.

Boos ring around the Nice ground as Mitchell kicks the ball away - AGAIN - but it bounces dead. Scrum back on halfway. No one chasing, just a ridiculous decision.

England 13-9 Japan

A frantic opening few minutes. England actually work the ball well to an edge, freeing Daly to run down the left wing before he's tackled into touch.

Japan happy to play quick, but end up trying to play deep out of their half. Eventually though a breakdown penalty lets them off the hook.

Second-half is underway

Let's hope this 40 is a lot better

One linebreak

That's England's attacking effort for the first 40 minutes.

The positives: we've not had anyone sent off.

This photo sums up the England gameplan - kick.

I know the stats, rightly, tell you that the team who kicks more wins matches at the top level.

But the likes of France, South Africa et al kick to contest, they kick to exit, they kick to pressurise the opposition. They don't kick because they've got nothing else to do.

This seems to be England's base tactic and the rewards, across several games now, isn't a lot.

HALF-TIME: England 13-9 Japan

Ford extends England's lead with the final kick of the first-half.

They go through a few phases about 30m out, eventually drawing a penalty from Japan.

Borthwick better have some ideas up his sleeve, because this style of play isn't going to do anything in this tournament.

England 10-9 Japan

England show some ambition by turning down a simple three points and go to the corner.

In recent weeks it is their forwards that have come up with most of their tries, but England don't even make one phase as George knocks it on.

Woeful, but not surprising.

Half-time seconds away here.