England Player Ratings vs Japan
England survived a major scare early against Japan to record a 35-15 victory over the Cherry Blossoms at Twickenham.
Eddie Jones’ former side gave his current one all they could handle in the first half, but as England grew into the contest and sent for some reinforcements from the bench, they moved through the gears and took the game beyond the visitors.
We’ve rated all 23 of England’s performers from Saturday afternoon’s encounter.
- Elliot Daly – 7
The rust of not playing 15 week in, week out for his club was further knocked off, as Daly looked more of a threat on the counter-attack, as well as covering across the back field well. He was adept at identifying space, whether he was running into it or kicking into it, whilst England also made good use of his titanic boot, with the full-back knocking over a penalty from over 50m in the first half. Didn’t consistently dominate the space under the contested high balls, though.
- Chris Ashton – 6
Ashton was unfortunately subbed off just after the 30-minute mark with an apparent leg injury and didn’t have too much opportunity to influence the game. He did, however, showcase his impressive work rate on Danny Care’s early try, tracking the play from the other side of the pitch and being an option for the scrum-half, had he needed it.
- Jack Nowell – 6
He was caught narrow once early, but ultimately defended well in the challenging 13 channel, including making some important one-on-one tackles. He had a bit more influence on the attacking game once he was moved out to the wing but will be kicking himself for knocking on early in the second half when Owen Farrell had unleashed him on the outside.
- Alex Lozowski – 5
Got the shepherd’s crook at half time after struggling to influence the game positively. The centre missed a couple of crucial tackles, including the one on Ryoto Nakamura, who went over for Japan’s first try, and didn’t provide the control or incision in the role that Owen Farrell has previously provided.
- Joe Cokanasiga – 9
A strong debut for the Bath man, who did not freeze in the spotlight. His speed and ability to chase kicks and compete in the air was noteworthy, whilst his impressive carrying threat was also on display. He looked comfortable defensively, too, rotating back into the middle when Daly was pulled out of position by Japan, as well as making good defensive reads and executing the one-on-one tackles. His first try for England was created by his own work rate on the chase and skill in the air, winning the ball back for his team.
- George Ford – 6
Far from the masterful display that Ford would have wanted to stake a claim for resuming his role as England’s starting fly-half. The positives included missing just one kick at goal and a nice inside ball for Mark Wilson’s try, but his control on the game was lacking in the first half. He couldn’t quite pull the strings and get England moving offensively until Japan tired and fell out of contention.
- Danny Care – 5
After a bright start, where Care brought tempo and excellent support-running for the first try of the game, the scrum-half fell out of his groove somewhat. His miss-pass from the base of the ruck was read and intercepted by Japan, he mishandled a lineout steal from Charlie Ewels and a missed tackle on Michael Leitch led directly to a Japan try.
- Alec Hepburn – 4
Another quiet performance from Hepburn, who hasn’t been able to translate club form onto the international stage over the last few weeks. England had no set-piece advantage and his characteristic domineering runs for Exeter were not on display at Twickenham.
- Jamie George – 8
George swallowed a yellow card for going off his feet in the ruck, but it was a penalty conceded that arguably saved England from a try. Otherwise, it was a solid showing from the hooker, who linked up well in the loose, including helping to create tries for Care and Cokanasiga, whilst he also made a try-saving tackle on Yu Tamura in the first half.
- Harry Williams – 5
The tighthead looked uncomfortable against Keita Inagaki early on but did manage to fire back later in the first half, forcing a penalty out of the Japanese loosehead. Like Care, he also missed a tackle on Leitch, which saw the back row canter over the try line.
- Charlie Ewels – 7
On a day of England doing the basics on defence badly, Ewels stood out with the understated efficiency of his performance. He tackled strongly and cleanly and provided England with a good second option at the lineout when not calling to Maro Itoje. Popped up with a steal on Japan’s throw, too.
- Maro Itoje – 7
A strong early showing from the lock, who was breaking tackles as a carrier, disrupting the Japanese lineout and getting his hands inside the opposition maul and onto the ball. A couple of individual moments of brilliance, including a steal on the ground when England were under pressure and an athletic lineout take on a poor throw. Came strong in England’s ‘second wave’ at the 60-minute mark.
- Courtney Lawes – 6
The lock-turned-blindside started and finished the game strongly, with a sizeable quiet period in the middle of the game. He made some trademark momentum-changing tackles and demonstrated his ability in the wider channels, linking play with soft hands that didn’t exist a couple of seasons ago. Won a crucial breakdown penalty 10 minutes from the end, with Japan pressuring the English try line.
- Mark Wilson – 6
Short of the impressive performance he turned in against South Africa. Wilson got on the wrong side of the referee, pinged for being offside at the maul and not rolling away in the opening 15 minutes, as well as gifting Japan an advantage for being offside earlier in the game. He also knocked on early and struggled to have the same positive influence on the game that he had against the Springboks, although his second half try eased English worries.
- Zach Mercer – 5
A quiet performance from the number eight on his first start, who couldn’t make his presence known as his team struggled around him. He had a couple of noteworthy moments on the gain-line, either evading the tackle and getting England moving forward, or showing soft hands to bring in players inside or outside him.
Replacements
- Dylan Hartley – 6
Connected with an early lineout when George was sinbinned, as well as one to club teammate Lawes in the second half that he was able to drive over the try line from the maul.
- Ben Moon – 7
Just as he did coming off the bench against South Africa, Moon significantly bolstered the English scrum. England went from set-piece inconsistency to set-piece dominance once he and Kyle Sinckler arrived.
- Kyle Sinckler – 7
The tighthead brought real impact off the bench, both running hard and straight at the Japanese defensive line and acting as a playmaker on the gain-line, shifting the ball on with good hands.
- Ted Hill – 6
Came on late for his debut but didn’t have an opportunity to influence the game.
- Sam Underhill – 6
Put himself about defensively after coming on, bringing much-needed efficiency wrapping players up in the tackle. Grabbed a late turnover to cap his display.
- Richard Wigglesworth – 6
Clinical cameo from Wigglesworth, who showed good awareness to send Cokanasiga over for his first international try.
- Owen Farrell – 8
Sizeable impact from the bench, bringing leadership and communication in the defensive line, a better link to the outside channels on offence and a number of examples of good hands and clever kicks creating space for England.
- Henry Slade – 6
Had a nice break late that was unlucky not to lead to more and tracked back well defensively, saving England’s blushes on one particularly dangerous Japanese attack.
Watch: England scrum-half Danny Care speaks to RugbyPass.
Comments on RugbyPass
Did footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to comments