England score four tries in Nice to secure second Pool D win
Lewis Ludlam scored England's first World Cup try in scrappy first half
Courtney Lawes scored England's second try after ball hit Joe Marler's head
Freddie Steward and Joe Marchant scored England's other tries
England's remaining Pool D fixtures against Chile and Samoa
Image source, Getty ImagesSo England made it two wins from two games in France, with a bonus point and four tries to boot.
They will have to play better, but they can play better.
Catch up on the report if you missed anything and we shall see you later in the week!
FT: England 34-12 Japan
Mike Henson
BBC Sport in Nice
Image source, Getty ImagesIt was neither a scoreline nor a performance to worry any of the tournament's main contenders.
If anything, it will have confirmed to market leaders France, Ireland and South Africa that they are still operating several levels above England.
The whistles and jeers that followed several of England's decisions to kick away attacking ball suggested some of their fans were similarly unimpressed.
Here's our man in Nice, Mike Henson's take on tonight's affair...
FT: Australia 15-22 Fiji
Image source, Getty Images"After that I probably deserved more, mate. They should be throwing baguettes, croissants at me. I deserve whatever I get."
Say what you like about Australia head coach Eddie Jones but he's always good for a quote isn't he...
The World Cup action returns on Wednesday when Italy face Uruguay, while next weekend sees some really titanic games.
South Africa v Ireland on Saturday night, before Wales take on Australia 24 hours later.
Yes please!
FT: England 34-12 Japan
BBC Radio 5 Live
Image source, Getty ImagesSpeaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, England head coach Steve Borthwick said: "I'm really pleased for the players and for the supporters here tonight. We have a fantastic traveling support, who spend a lot of money to watch this team. Tonight was tough but we have a good bonus point and we are pleased by that.
"How great is it that we have such incredible quality in depth at 10 and 15? I thought Marcus Smith came on and was brilliant in that last quarter. The next step is for the players to enjoy the win because they played very hard. We play Chile in six days time so we'll recover and get a great plan together then look forward to that."
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live
It's so hard to call in that pool, we agreed it would be difficult after Fiji turned England over at Twickenham. I will go with Wales, I was so underwhelmed with Australia, it had all the hallmarks of Eddie Jones’ boring ways.
It was a robotic Australian side panicking and having to score two tries late on. I think Wales have enough to take out Australia next week.
If you missed the big game from this afternoon by the way, Fiji beat Australia.
Catch up on the report here.
FT: England 34-12 Japan
Image source, Getty ImagesSpeaking to ITV, England head coach Steve Borthwick said: "It was a good game against a really good Japan team. We knew we would get the rewards if we kept doing the right things. I'm delighted for the players and the supporters out there. We want to make sure they enjoy it and have some good nights.
"The players have got to find a way to get the result. You saw a Japan team who kicked the ball 37 times, which tells you a lot about the conditions tonight. Whatever the plan was from the start, the players need to adapt and get the result.
"We will have a good debrief of this game. The first thing is for the players to enjoy this win. and then we have six days until we play Chile."
FT: England 34-12 Japan
England had a testing night in testing conditions. Now they can relax with Chile ahead.
Image source, Getty ImagesFT: England 34-12 Japan
Image source, Getty ImagesJapan coach Jamie Joseph: "For my team, I'm very proud of them. We created a lot of opportunities, we just made too many mistakes. England put us under a lot of pressure but there were times I thought it was a real arm-wrestle, we just needed to capitalise on those opportunities and we couldn't do it.
"The heart of the team is really sound, we've got great leadership here, there's a lot of experince in our team, but when you have those opportunities, you have to capitalise on them."
A big call. You'll be hearing plenty of chat about England's Owen Farrell this week...
FT: England 34-12 Japan
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live
Image source, Getty ImagesI don't think Owen Farrell is good enough to get in the team at the moment, but let's see how he goes over the next couple weeks.
The off-field dynamic of how great Owen Farrell is, I have heard for years and years, but I have just not seen it on the pitch.
What I do see up close and analyse is how he plays for England. I don't see him bringing anything that isn't already there.
I would not put Marcus Smith in as a starting 15 but there is nothing wrong with bringing him on if you need to change a game up.
FT: England 34-12 Japan
BBC Radio 5 Live
Image source, Getty ImagesSpeaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, England captain Courtney Lawes said: "Full credit to Japan. We knew they would put up a fight. It was so greasy but we did well to come away with five points so I can’t ask for much more.
"That was a decent header from Joe Marler, sometimes the luck falls in your favour so I will take it.
"We wanted to play good rugby but conditions were tough. We saw what we wanted to do but we will stick with it."
Here's how England's group looks after victory in Nice.
FT: England 34-12 Japan
Chris Ashton
Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live
It was tricky out there, as we have seen in all the games, very hot and sweaty which makes it very difficult. When it goes through lots of phases out of a maul where it has been next to a sweaty shirt it is tricky. You have to think about that on the hoof, but it is the same for everyone.
FT: England 34-12 Japan
BBC Radio 5 Live
Image source, Getty ImagesSpeaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, England fly-half George Ford said: "We are just really happy with another win tonight. We knew it was going to be tough and Japan challenge you in different ways. We knew it would be that third or fourth quarter we could pull away a bit but we are delighted to get the win.
"It was probably not the prettiest watching it. It's really hard to play with the ball in these conditions. These late kick-offs are dead greasy but we got there in the end."
FT: England 34-12 Japan
Chris Ashton
Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live
The bench coming on had a real edge in attack. Billy Vunipola looks so comfortable on the ball, he is willing to carry when no-one else wants to time after time.
It gets us away from the frustration of the first half, I am sure they will say that is all part of the plan so some of our frustration is gone.
FT: England 34-12 Japan
The crossfield kick from George Ford for the Freddie Steward try was the moment of the match for me. Perfect execution.
FT: England 34-12 Japan
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live
There is a lot to be really positive and excited about with that performance. I loved the way England came out in the second half and upped the tempo. The Japanese had some good chances today and had they scored you go into a different mindset but England defended brilliantly.
They only missed 16 tackles and it is an efficient performance. They will be tired but they have looked after themselves really well there. It does set up England beautifully for the rest of the pool stages and into the quarter-finals.
That's as complete a performance I have seen in Borthwick's tenure.
Image source, Getty Images