The England rugby team finds itself in unfamiliar territory heading into their final autumn international match against Japan on Sunday. Having suffered five consecutive defeats, including losses to New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa this month, the pressure is mounting on coach Steve Borthwick and his players to deliver a commanding performance and result against the Brave Blossoms.
England’s recent struggles have been well-documented, with their defense and game management coming under intense scrutiny. The team has conceded far too many points and struggled to close out tight matches, leading to growing frustration among fans and pundits alike.
Despite the criticism, Borthwick remains confident that his side can turn things around against Japan. The return of flanker Tom Curry from injury is a major boost, although the loss of Elliot Daly and promising youngster Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to injury is a blow.
Eddie Jones Plots England’s Downfall
Adding intrigue to this fixture is the presence of Eddie Jones in the opposing coaching box. Jones, who led England to the 2019 World Cup final during his tenure, is now tasked with masterminding a famous upset with Japan.
The wily Australian is renowned for his mind games and meticulous preparation, and he will no doubt have a few tricks up his sleeve for his old team. Japan hooker Mamoru Harada summed up the team’s ambition, stating “Only victory will be success this weekend.”
While England will be strong favorites given the teams’ respective rankings and recent history, Japan have shown they are no pushovers. Impressive wins over Uruguay and Wales in June were followed by a creditable showing in defeat against New Zealand in October.
Pressure Builds on Borthwick
For Borthwick and England, this match represents an opportunity to ease some of the pressure that has been building in recent weeks. A convincing win, complete with a strong defensive display and clinical finishing, would help to silence some of the doubters and give the team a platform to build from heading into the Six Nations.
“This week is an opportunity to put things right and produce a complete performance. Players shouldn’t be thinking about outside perceptions, they need to focus on delivering the basics and do their job effectively.”
– Steve Borthwick, England Coach
Key to England’s hopes will be shoring up their defense and minimizing individual errors. Too often in recent matches, lapses in concentration or poor execution have allowed the opposition to score cheap points and gain the upper hand.
The battle at the breakdown is also likely to be crucial, with Japan renowned for their speed and tenacity in competing for loose ball. England’s back-row, led by the returning Curry, will need to be at their disruptive best to gain the upper hand in this crucial area.
England Seek Cutting Edge in Attack
In attack, England fans will hope to see more cohesion and creativity from their backline. The combination of Marcus Smith at fly-half alongside centers Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence has shown flashes of promise but is yet to fully fire.
If England can get their passing game going and bring dangerous runners like Freddie Steward and Joe Cokanasiga into the game, they certainly have the firepower to cause Japan problems out wide.
“We know we have the individual talents, it’s about putting it together as a collective. When we do that and get our game plan right, we’re an extremely difficult team to stop.”
– Owen Farrell, England Captain
While a resounding victory alone won’t erase the disappointment of England’s autumn campaign, it would at least provide a much-needed morale boost and something positive to build on for Borthwick’s men.
Conversely, a shock defeat to Japan hardly bears thinking about for England fans. It would undoubtedly lead to some uncomfortable conversations and potentially leave Borthwick and the RFU pondering their next steps.
Ultimately, the form guide and home advantage point to an England win on Sunday. But with the mercurial Jones plotting against them and a Japan side eager to claim another famous scalp, Borthwick’s team will need to be at their focused and ruthless best to avoid further misery.
