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England's performance in the World Cup was a mixed affair, with limited attacking options and boos echoed around the Nice Stadium. However, despite lacking accuracy and execution, England's second successive win has edged them closer to securing a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. With Owen Farrell available again from suspension next week ahead of the game against Chile and Tom Curry returning from his two-game ban for the final pool game against Samoa, England at least have another foothold to build on, particularly the momentum generated in the final quarter.
Borthwick would have taken the bonus-point win given the trauma experienced by former England head coach Eddie Jones from Australia's shock defeat by Fiji earlier in the day. However, England finally pushed on in the second half, adding tries by Lawes, Freddie Steward, and Joe Marchant to Lewis Ludlam's first-half score. It must have been hard to watch England supporters at times, who again found their voice after the heroics of Marseille.
Significantly, England also kept their own line intact against a Japanese side that was brimming with vigour and vivacity – including a brilliantly executed over-head kick by Yutaka Nagare. With Farrell available, Borthwick will have the option of starting two playmakers at 10 and 12, which should bring greater depth to their attacking strategy.
Against Japan, England initially opted for a kick-pressure game following their rearguard defensive action against Argentina, and a mauling game designed to nullify Japan's line speed and sap their energy for a more open game in the second half. Ford's successive high balls were won with tip backs in the aerial contests by Freddie Steward and Jonny May. However, all too often the reaction was error-ridden, denying England the opportunity to build on the pressure.
England turned to their maul to edge the yards and tie up the Japanese defence but on one occasion, a well-set drive drove Japan back 20 metres only for only for one pass from Mitchell to be coughed up in the midfield, with Manu Tuilagi finding his space taken away from him. Japan launched a swift counter-attack with Lemeki and Labuschagne carrying hard, and although Matsuda's cross-kick was too far, England had been caught offside and Matsuda levelled the scores with a penalty.
England looked like a different side from the restart, at least in terms of their intensity, but while they started to make ground in the wide channels, it all lacked the necessary composure to turn half-breaks into fluid attacks. Instead, Japan scored next, with Matsuda landing his fourth penalty.
With an eight-point advantage, England built pressure to finally crack Japan. From a five-metre scrum after Ben Youngs, Tuilagi, and Earl had bundled Matsuda over the line, England's attack finally clicked when wrap-around in midfield ended with a Ford cross-kick, under pressure, on his left foot, finding Steward and the England full-back touching down for his side's third try.
