Test Match No. 347: Europe tour 2018, game 1

日本語 Photo Journal
18 November 2018; G: Twickenham; R: Paul Williams (NZ)
●Japan 15-35 England○
 
Data:
17/11/2018, European tour 2018
Japan 15 England 35
Twickenham, London
Half-time 15-10
Refree: Poul Williams (NZ)
Crowd: 81,151
 
JAPAN: 15 William Tupou, 14 Akihito Yamada, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Yu Tamura (23 Rikiya Matsuda 69), 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (22 Yutaka Nagare 40), 8 Kazuki Himeno (20 Hendrik Tui 59), 7 Masakatsu Nishikawa (21 Shunsuke Nunomaki 40), 6 Michael Leitch (capt), 5 Uwe Helu (19 Samuela Anise 40), 4 Wimpie Van Der Walt, 3 Jiwon Koo (18 Asaeli Ai Valu 72), 2 Atsushi Sakate (16 Yusuke Niwai 69), 1 Keita Inagaki (17 Koki Yamamoto 72).
Reserves:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries: Michael Leitch, Ryoto Nakamura; Conversions: Yu Tamura; Penalty Goals: Yu Tamura.
 
England: 15 Eliot Daly, 14 Chris Ashton (23 Henry Slade 32), 13 Jack Nowell, 12 Alex Lozowski (22 Owen Farrell 40), 11 Joe Cokanasiga, 10 George Ford, 9 Danny Care (21 Richard Wigglesworth 59), 8 Zach Mercer (20 Sam Underhill 48), 7 Mark Wilson, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Maro Itoje, 4 Charlie Ewels (19 Ted Hill 75), 3 Harry Williams (18 Kyle Sinckler 50), 2 Jamie George (20, 30) (16 Dylan Hartly 72), 1 Alec Hepburn (17 Ben Moon 48).
Reserves:
Coach: Eddie Jones.
Tries: Danny Care, Mark Wilson, Joe Cokanasiga, Dylan Hartly; Conversions: George Ford (4); Penalty Goals: Eliot Daly, George Ford (2).
Yellow Cards: Jamie George (20, sin-bin).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 3min-try England, Danny Care; conv. George Ford-0-7, 16min-Pen Japan, Yu Tamura-3-7, 22min-try Japan, Ryoto Nakamura; conv. Yu Tamura-10-7, 28min-pen England, Eliot Daly-10-10, 31min-try Japan, Michael Leitch; conv. Yu Tamura (missed)-15-10, 56min-pen England, George Ford-15-13, 59min-try England, Mark Wilson; conv. George Ford-15-20, 56min-pen England, George Ford-15-23, 70min-try England, Joe Cokanasiga; conv. George Ford-15-30, 70min-try England, Dylan Hartly; conv. George Ford (missed)-15-35.
 


Japan played the main cast in the 40th minute of the first half. It was England's kick-off. From the beginning, their forwards hit their bodies against Japan's players relentlessly. In the 3rd minute, full-back Elliot Daly caught a kick from stand-off Yu Tamura. He saw ourside of the Japan's defenseline open, and passed the ball to their wing Joe Cokanasiga, who received the first cap. Gain with a big stride. The ball was passed to hooker Jamie George, and then to scrum-half Danny Care who jumped in the in-goal. Since they scored a try easily, it influenced them in their subsequent play. A problem exposed in the match against the All Blacks, breakdown, had been improved. Japan sent the ball to the players who went forward physically, including both locks Wimpie van der Walt and Uwe Helu and number 8 Kazuki Himeno, and Fumiaki Tanaka, who was in the starting-lineup and made a rhythmical pass. After conceding a try, Japan started attacking. “We focused on eliminating the opponent, and got the ball out in a completely clean condition. We were getting the ball out with a good tempo” (Keita Inagaki)
Also a problem in the match against New Zealand, was high-ball handling. On this day, Japan used Tupou William as number 15 for the first time. His body of 188 ㎝ and 101 ㎏ showed strong and stable catching and contacts against the opponent. In attacking, he frustrated England with wide passes, as well as deep passes to players who ran in behind.
In the 16th minute, Tamura scored a penalty goal to get 3 points back, then in the 22nd minute, from a scrum in front of the goal, Tanaka passed the ball directly to centre Ryoto Nakamura, who ran in. He threw off two defense players and jumped in the in-goal directly to come from behind 8-7. In the 28th minute, Daly scored a 51 meter long penalty goal back. On the other hand, in the 31st minute, wing Akihito Yamada regained his footing and was patient while getting tackles and passed the ball to the outer side. Leitch went through the opponent's defense, ran out 22 meters, and scored a try to get a lead of 15-10. Englande made several penalties at the breakdown and was late with their quick movements. Also in the 37th minute, Leitch broke through, however, a pass he made when he was about to make a try was caught by the opponent and Japan lost an opportunity.
Since the second half started, some players changed in both teams. In the Japanese team, Uwe, Nishikawa and Tanaka left the game, and England sent the team pillar Owen Farrell, who England had on reserve, to the pitch. Then, in the second half, the situation in the breakdown changed drastically. This time, Japan started conceding penalties. “When we were caught, and also when we were not caught, we conceded penalties like no-ball-tackle.” (Inagaki)
Japan was pressurised and started making pass mistakes, which they didn't make in the first half. In the 16th minute, England narrowed the margin to two points by a penalty goal, then in the 19th minute, they built phases and flanker Mark Wilson scored a try to come from behind. After that, England's forwards completely “overwhelmed” and widened the margin.
The final score was 15-35. In the second half, Japan scored none. For the man of the match, lock Maro Itoje was chosen.
What was unfortunate was that Japan subbed out scrum-half Tanaka in the first half, who was one of the causes of Japan's good play in the first half. Even while head coach Joseph was positive, saying “It was as planned. I think it worked well,” it was questionable that they replaced the core position when the flow was good for Japan. Head coach Joseph said “We fought against the Top 4 evenly. Even though I had said “it will be a fight between armature and professional” before the match, Japan has gradually improved.”.
Japan had learned how to correct problems they identified in the previous matches. Fitness in the second half was also improved and they had worked out how to get enough power to control the game for all 80 minutes. There were just over 10 months until the opening next September.