Famous Fixtures: England v Japan
Ahead of England's RWC pool game against Japan we look back at famous fixtures between the sides.
2022: ENG 52-13 JAP
In their last meeting England overwhelmed Japan at Twickenham, running in seven tries after losing out to Argentina by one point the week before. Five changes had been made to the team that faced Argentina and England came out the blocks quickly showing a sense of urgency and a want of redemption.
The combination of Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell outflanked the Japanese defence putting Freddie Steward on a carving line scoring inside 11 minutes.
Steward set up the second try as he weaved through the opposition defence before passing to Jack Van Poortvliet who slipped the ball into Joe Cokanasiga finding Smith zipping his way through to the corner. Farrell converted making it 17-0.
Japan halted the English momentum briefly with two penalties in quick succession from the boot of Takuya Yamasawa before England's third - van Poortvliet capitalised on a turnover throwing the ball wide which made its way into the hands of Guy Porter who scored his first of three tries at the end of the half.
The break was the only respite for the Japanese as seven minutes in to the resumption Ellis Genge received a flat pass from van Poortvliet, breaking through the defence to score from close range.
Twenty-five points was the difference between the teams before Porter scored his second try of the game after a neat grubber kick from Farrell fell perfectly for him to dot down.
Japan's defensive efforts were exposed again as Smith created his own luck following a cross-field kick to Steward, before latching onto Henry Slade’s hack forward, finishing off the attacking effort.
2018: ENG 35-15 JAP
A spirited Japanese performance gave the visitors a lead at the break, forcing England to find momentum, which they done - keeping Japan scoreless in the second half.
Debutant Joe Cokanasiga was the creator of England’s first when a counter-attacking opportunity presented itself to the winger, before Danny Care took on Jamie George's pass to race away for the opening try.
The early score awakened Japan who enjoyed a sustained spell of possession and territory allowing fly-half Yu Tamura to add three points from the boot.
Japanese pressure scrambled the English defence which caused George to go off his feet receiving a yellow card in the process.
Scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka passed a flat ball from the base of the scrum into the hands of centre Ryoto Nakamura who pushed his way past Alex Lozowski to score Japan’s first. Tamura converted, giving Japan a three-point lead 22 minutes in.
Japan’s spell continued through the first half and England levelled through Elliot Daly’s penalty kick from halfway, but moments later Japan captain Michael Leitch used his strength to refuse Care’s tackle as he stepped past Daly to dive into the corner. Japan went into the break leading 15-10, playing with pace and invention to the surprise of the Twickenham crowd.
The tightened scoreline fed England’s hunger and kick-started their drive to take the lead as Ford’s dummy pass opened the Japanese defence and put Mark Wilson through to the line putting England in the lead.
Momentum followed and Cokanasiga opened his England account courtesy of replacement Richard Wigglesworth, who burst clear down the left before Cokanasiga benefitted.
Ford converted to bring the score to 30-15 dampening Japan’s hopes of a comeback and England stretched the lead further as Dylan Hartley claimed his second try of the autumn from a driving maul in the final few minutes.
1979: SECOND TOUR OF JAPAN
England’s second tour to Japan in the early summer brought the team back to Osaka and Tokyo eight years later playing two fixtures across seven days.
England 21-19 Japan
Hanazono Stadium hosted the fixture seeing England return for another tightly contested match against the Japanese with the score at 19-19 in the final minutes.
The home team made a statement early on through fly-half Yuji Matsuo who slotted a drop-goal with six minutes played. Matsuo had the opportunity to stretch the lead further inside 15 minutes through two penalty kicks but missed the target each time.
England found their footing after a slow start until Hooker Peter Wheeler scored England’s first of the afternoon which full-back Dusty Hare converted to give the visitors the lead. Dusty added more points through a penalty with 10 minutes left in the half to put England ahead 9-3.
Japan pushed on late to close the gap and found success through Ichiro Kobayashi who touched down. Matsuo missed the conversion but redeemed himself by placing a penalty kick between the posts to give Japan a one point lead at the break.
Dusty missed a penalty kick to bring England back in front early in the second half and Matsuo stepped up with his own penalty kick to extend the Brave Blossoms' lead however, Dusty regained some form and put away two penalties in quick succession to give England a two-point advantage.
A missed penalty from Dusty's boot was almost costly as Japan’s captain Shigetaka Mori scored after flanker Takeo Ishizuka kicked the ball towards the touch-line to relieve pressure on the Japanese defence.
The ball travelled into the centre of the pitch which was dropped by England and Ishizuka followed his kick picking up the loose ball and found winger Mori who touched down. Matsuo added the conversion to put Japan in the lead 19-15.
Japan lock Takeshi Hatayama kicked the ball to end the game however, the ball didn't find touch and Peter Squires collected the ball out wide and counter-attacked to score in the corner to tie the game 19-19. Dusty converted the try and Japan were defeated 21-19.
1971: FIRST TOUR OF JAPAN
England’s first tour to Japan brought them to Hanazono Stadium in the city of Osaka and Chichibunomiya Stadium in the capital, Tokyo.
England 27 - 19 Japan
This historic uncapped fixture was the first match between the countries and the game was evenly contested at 19-19 until the last five minutes when England scored two tries in quick succession through backs Peter Glover and Jeremy Janion.
Japan opened the scoring through the boot of Yoshiharu Yamaguchi after England conceded an early penalty. Five minutes on fly-half Alan Cowman scored the England's first try of the game which was converted by Peter Rossborough.
Japan added six points back-to-back through two penalties from Yamaguchi putting the Brave Blossoms ahead by three points. England winger Rodney Webb closed the first half scoring a try before the whistle giving them a one point lead at the break.
Japan responded quickly after the interval, scoring inside five minutes when centre Makoto Mizutani touched down. The try was converted putting Japan back in front 15-10.
Fly-half Cowman claimed the next spell of points for England scoring one try which he converted and a penalty kick putting England back in front at 19-15.
Japan replied when No 8 Yoshihiro Murata scored a crucial try to tie the fixture at 19-19 in the 66th minute. The score remained even until England pushed into the final minutes scoring two tries through Glover and Janion to see out the fixture 27-19.
