Summary

  • England beat Tonga 35-3 in their first World Cup match in Sapporo

  • Tuilagi powers over for two tries in first half

  • Hookers George & Cowan-Dickie score in second half to seal bonus point

  • Eddie Jones 'happy with players' attitude' but admits team lacked cohesion

  1. 'He'd be unlucky to get busted for that'published at 12:09 British Summer Time 22 September 2019

    Matt Dawson
    England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

    He's committed to making that hit and Watson's falling down into that because he's dropped it. Kalamafoni looks in a very good position. It's still a high shot but he'd be incredibly unlucky to get busted after the game for that.

  2. Postpublished at 39 mins

    England 18-3 Tonga

    Sione Kalamafoni is probably 15cm away from walking here.

    His shoulder is on Anthony Watson's chest rather than chin.

    His case is also helped by the fact Watson is dropping his body height in pursuit of the ball.

    No foul play is the call and we play on with a Tonga scrum.

    Sione KalamafoniImage source, Getty Images
  3. Postpublished at 38 mins

    England 18-3 Tonga

    Owen Farrell shovels on a one-way ticket to the Japanese healthcare system.

    A horrible head-high pass for Anthony Watson. The Bath wing juggles and is nailed by a huge shoulder from flanker Sione Kalamafoni.

    How high was it? We are going to have a look at the video...

  4. Postpublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 22 September 2019

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    Zeb Bowyer: England trying to take the Tongans on at their own game is not working. Brute physicality and immense tackling is their forte. Use speed, width and a little creativity and we’ll sap their energy.

    LionHeart: England need to get the pressure on, the All Blacks smashed these and we should too.

  5. 'I'm just thankful Youngs got up'published at 12:03 British Summer Time 22 September 2019

    Matt Dawson
    England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

    I'm just thankful Ben Youngs got up. He picked the largest player on the planet to run into!

  6. Penalty - England 18-3 Tongapublished at 36 mins

    Owen Farrell

    Another brick in the wall.

    England build their lead out to 15 points. It is not the 85-point palace that the All Blacks constructed in a 92-7 warm-up win earlier this month.

    Not yet anyway.

  7. Postpublished at 12:01 British Summer Time 22 September 2019

    England 15-3 Tonga

    Becky Grey
    BBC Sport at Sapporo Dome

    There's only a bit of half-hearted booing from England fans after that no try decision. Think most of them know there wasn't much hope.

  8. Grounds for a penalty try?published at 12:01 British Summer Time 22 September 2019

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent at the Sapporo Dome

    Got to be grounds for a penalty try there? England were inches short...

  9. No trypublished at 36 mins

    England 15-3 Tonga

    No try is the call, but England have got the consolation prize of a penalty right in front after a Tongan hand played the ball on the floor.

    Owen Farrell is going to take the easy three.

    No tryImage source, Getty Images
  10. Try reviewpublished at 34 mins

    England 15-3 Tonga

    An absolute crowd scene on the line. Who has got their mitts on the ball as it is grounded in goal?

    Red or white?

    We are going to the video official to read the roulette wheel...

  11. Postpublished at 34 mins

    England 15-3 Tonga

    England have a penalty. It is kickable. But, to cheers from the fans, Owen Farrell opts for the corner.

    England are going for the jugular with half-time looming.

  12. Postpublished at 11:56 British Summer Time 22 September 2019

    England 15-3 Tonga

    Becky Grey
    BBC Sport at Sapporo Dome

    There are two fans in full England kit (socks and all) right down at the front who LOVED that try.

  13. 'That's exactly what we asked for'published at 11:56 British Summer Time 22 September 2019

    Paul Grayson
    Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Credit where it's due, that's exactly what we asked for. Everything happened there at pace. Quick ball, no secondary carry, beautiful hands from Elliot Daly as he's about to get munched - that's more like it!

    Manu TuilagiImage source, Getty Images
  14. try

    Converted try - England 15-3 Tongapublished at 30 mins

    Manu Tuilagi (con: Farrell)

    A little too much craft, a little too much pace and Tonga are undone off first phase by England's accuracy.

    Manu Tuilagi runs a decoy run up the middle, sucking in defenders, while George Ford feeds wide to Elliot Daly.

    A lovely long pass out to Jonny May who looks back inside where Tuilagi has a trot in for his and England's second try.

    Extras from Owen Farrell.

    Manu TuilagiImage source, Reuters
  15. Postpublished at 29 mins

    England 8-3 Tonga

    That line-out drill from England was executed well, but was badly conceived.

    Jamie George throws short to Kyle Sinckler at the front, who immediately basketballs it back to him.

    But the Tongans flood into the five-metre channel to shovel George into touch.

    Not sure we will see that again soon.

  16. 'The All Blacks would be 30 up by now'published at 11:53 British Summer Time 22 September 2019

    Matt Dawson
    England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Just get the ball into play, give it to the superstars and get loads of pace in the breakdown. The Tongans will not have the ability to keep up with the pace, we're playing into their hands.

    The All Blacks would be 30 up by now.

  17. Missed penaltypublished at 28 mins

    England 8-3 Tonga

    Sonatane Takulua of Newcastle hooks his kick to the left of the uprights.

    A bit of a let-off for England. And it might take some of the sting out of Eddie Jones' half-time review of that error.

  18. Postpublished at 26 mins

    England 8-3 Tonga

    England, possibly put off by the Freddie Mercury warbling that is thumping out of the speakers before kick-off, fluff their reception of the Tongan restart.

    Maro Itoje catches cleanly but his team-mates get offside as they bind on to support him.

    Tonga are going to take on the shot at goal as Eddie Jones slams his fist into the table in his David Blaine-style perspex cube high in the stands.

  19. Postpublished at 11:48 British Summer Time 22 September 2019

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    SeriousFace: Blimey Tuilagi is a difference maker. If he's still rampaging through to the latter stage of this tournament, can only see one winner.

  20. 'He's England's X Factor'published at 11:48 British Summer Time 22 September 2019

    Danny Care
    Harlequins and England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    He's England's X Factor. Those Tongan boys aren't small but he shrugged them off like little kids. I can only dream of having the power he possesses.

    Manu TuilagiImage source, Getty Images