Four-try England hail improved attack in 34-12 bonus-point win over Japan

NICE – England will take any scrap of luck that comes their way as they improve their attacking play, captain Courtney Lawes said, after

the 34-12 bonus-point victory over Japan

in Nice on Sunday set them on course for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

England struggled with the conditions and poor decision-making in the first 50 minutes of the Pool D game but scored four tries for what was, on the scoreboard at least, a comprehensive win.

“We showed glimpses of how good our attack can be. We will continue to work on it and we are getting better every day. Later in the competition, we will hopefully be firing on all cylinders,” Lawes said.

He profited from a large slice of good fortune to score a crucial second try for England with the game evenly poised at 13-12. Lewis Ludlam, Freddie Steward and Joe Marchant scored the other tries.

The ball ricocheted backwards off the arm of prop Joe Marler and onto the latter’s head, landing perfectly for Lawes to score unopposed as Japan’s players stopped in expectation of the whistle.

“It was a lucky try, but I will take them however they come,” Lawes said. “In these conditions it is difficult. I saw it ricochet off (Marler’s) head and thought I should score it just in case (it was not a knock-on).

“It was tough, even when you have a good grasp of (the ball) you go into contact and it can spin out of your hands. It is just so greasy. It is hot and humid and you are sweaty. It makes it very difficult.”

Coach Steve Borthwick echoed those views and said it was changing the way teams play in these conditions.

“The players found a way to win, but in these conditions it is challenging,” he said. “Japan kicked the ball 37 times. When have you ever seen a Japan team do that? It tells you a lot.”

The 2019 Japan side

who memorably made the knockout stages in their home tournament combined a high-tempo approach with a clinical style that was missing on Sunday, as they badly lost momentum in the final period.

“The guys tried to implement the plan and we created opportunities, but we did not take them. That is Test match rugby. England are an experienced side and over time they wore us down,” Japan coach Jamie Joseph said.

The Brave Blossoms need a good result against Samoa in their next game on Sept 28, with Argentina and the Pacific Islanders in the hunt for the second qualifying spot as England look likely to progress. They then face a tough encounter against Argentina on Oct 8.

Borthwick said England would get sharper as the tournament progresses after looking aimless at times when they had possession in the Japan half.

“You can see growth in our attack. It always takes the longest to come together because it takes cohesion. We have had three or four months with our full coaching team to work on it, some teams have had eight years.”

England play their next game against bottom side Chile in Lille on Saturday. REUTERS