England edged nearer to the final eight on the rugby union World Cup on Sunday night time following a 34-12 victory over Japan on the Allianz Riviera in Nice.
The end result with a bonus level leaves Steve Borthwick’s facet a win away from securing a berth within the knockout phases from Group D. That success needs to be obtained subsequent Saturday on the Stade Pierre Mauroy in opposition to World Cup debutants Chile.
And it will likely be hailed as a triumph. England entered the match on the again of a dreadful streak that had furnished them with solely two wins from their 9 video games in 2023.
Fly-half George Ford orchestrated the 14-man 27-10 overcome Argentina within the opening match in Marseille on 9 September by kicking all 27 factors.
And the 30-year-old, who collected 14 factors on Sunday night time, was deemed man-of-the-match for executing a rugged and unenthralling kicking technique.
“Delighted with another win,” he deapanned after he was offered together with his trophy.
“A tough game. We knew it would be as Japan never give in.
“We needed to change the way in which we assault to get the factors we would have liked however there is not any frustration from our finish. We know what it takes to win check matches. We’re two from two. But we have to get higher subsequent week, and there is extra in us.”
Staid
Eleven handling errors told the grim story of the first-half in which Ford and his Japanese counterpart, Rikiya Matsuda, swapped penalties in the first 17 minutes and after the water break Matsuda knocked over another.
Bu Japan’s lead was fleeting. Kyle Sinckler snatched a loose ball at a line out near the Japanese five-metre line and though he could force his way through, Lewis Ludlam went over when the ball was recycled for the first try of the game.
Ford added the two points for a 10-6 lead after 30 minutes.
England’s indiscipline cost them straight away. Jonny May clattered into Lomano Lemeki late after the full-back kicked clear and a penalty was awarded from where the ball landed in England’s half.
A grateful Matsuda racked up his personal and Japan’s tally to nine points before Ford responded with another penalty on the stroke of half-time to send England into the break with a 13-9 lead.
After 14 gruelling minutes in the second-half, another penalty and another three points from Matsuda brought Japan to within a point.
Chance
But the game turned on a freak. As England were moving the ball to the left wing, it hit Will Stuart’s arm, bounced forward off Joe Marler’s head and into the grasp of Courtney Lawes who trotted over the line as the Japan players waited for the whistle for a knock-on. The try was confirmed by the video referees and England – despite their failure to impose creativity – had conjured up the unusual.
The after-effects of such sorcery were in evidence when Ford angled a kick cross field for Freddie Steward to pluck out of the air and touch down with a fluidity that had been absent from myriad passages of play.
Ford converted to effectively seal the contest. Joe Marchant’s try late on belied the struggle.
Earlier in Group C, Fiji created the first huge shock of the tournament with a 22-15 victory over Australia in Saint-Etienne.
“I’m emotionally drained,” said Simon Raiwalui, who took over as Fiji’s coach in February. “I could not be prouder.”
Such a result had been in the offing though. In the prelude to the World Cup, Fiji won the Pacific Nations Cup, ran France close and beat England at Twickenham in the warm-ups.
“I instructed the boys, as we speak is our ultimate,” said skipper Waisea Nayacalevu. “Today will decide whether or not we wish to go as much as the quarters, so the mindset was do or die, do our greatest, combat to the top and the end result will maintain itself.”
Reigning champions South Africa brooked no such disaster. They pulverised Romania 76-0 in Bordeaux.
Originally printed on RFI