Summary

  • 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

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:03 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

    #bbcrugby or text to 81111 (UK only – texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

    This England rugby team are more boring than Chelsea - and that's quite an indictment!

    Peter , Kent

    This is awful rugby England for goodness sake get a grip

    Mick

    Alan Peevers: I don’t think England go for posts to keep the scoreboard ticking over. It’s because we don’t believe we can score tries. It’s that same desperation that makes us kick the ball away so much in the opposition half.

  2. Postpublished at 21:01 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

    The finishers from the England bench could be more crucial then normal tonight. Will Steve Borthwick make changes early?

  3. Postpublished at 20:58 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

    England 13-9 Japan

    Japan fansImage source, Getty Images

    These guys believe. And rightly so.

  4. Handling horror showpublished at 20:58 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

    HT: England 13-9 Japan

    Mike Henson
    BBC Sport in Nice

    England have had more possession and more pressure, but have also had more bloopers than Total Wipeout's cutting room floor.

    Difficult to say which was the worst. Ben Earl's pop pass into the face of Saracens team-mate Jamie George? Alex Mitchell's fluffed pass from the back of a trundling rolling maul after he had had a good 45 seconds to consider his options?

    So many to choose...

  5. 'Next score will be crucial'published at 20:53 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

    England 13-9 Japan

    Matt Dawson
    Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

    This is going to be a tasty half-time. The next score is crucial, if it is a try for Japan they will be right in this game. England have got to make it hard, with a drop-goal or a penalty, to make Japan think this will be a struggle.

  6. Half-timepublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

    England 13-9 Japan

    Well they haven't had a man sent off but England have not been very good. I think that's fair to say.

  7. Penalty - England 13-9 Japanpublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

    George Ford

    Slotted through from just outside the 22, George Ford gives England some very narrow breathing space.

  8. Penalty to Englandpublished at 40+1 mins

    England 10-9 Japan

    England have a penalty for another offside as we tick into added time. George Ford may as well kick this one you'd think.

  9. Postpublished at 40 mins

    England 10-9 Japan

    That's 11 handling errors in this game already. A buffet of butter fingers.

    Joe MarchantImage source, Getty Images
  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:47 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

    #bbcrugby or text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply)

    Andrew: England’s pack is single-handedly keeping them in this match, because the backline is offering next to nothing

    Paul: This England team is just awful to watch. You have to question the coaching as we really look like a team that doesn’t have any cohesion or ideas other than to kick. It’s like watching Ireland 10 years ago

    Theo: Do England have no other tactic than to just kick the ball away? It’s really average rugby

  11. Penalty to Englandpublished at 38 mins

    England 10-9 Japan

    Japan are offside and this time George Ford kicks for the corner instead of at the posts. A decision the England fans like a great deal...until they make a real hash of the lineout. Jamie George knocks it on to groans all around Nice.

  12. 'Too predictable from England'published at 20:46 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

    England 10-9 Japan

    Chris Ashton
    Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    There is no variation, it is so predictable. It seems we have them on the edge early, but we are not going to it.

  13. Postpublished at 36 mins

    England 10-9 Japan

    That's more like it, sustained England possession but as soon as I type that it's lost. Handling errors all over the shop from both teams.

  14. Scrappypublished at 34 mins

    England 10-9 Japan

    It's a bit of a theme of this World Cup in general isn't it - it's been very kick heavy. England do now put the ball through the hands but they lose it and Japan threaten to break clear. They then turn it over so maybe that's why there is so much kicking...

    England v JapanImage source, Getty Images
  15. 'Silly penalty'published at 20:40 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

    England 10-9 Japan

    Chris Ashton
    Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

    It was a silly penalty, but we have done the hard bit, we got George Ford's kick back and then we need to start to play.

  16. Penalty - England 10-9 Japanpublished at 32 mins

    Rikiya Matsuda

    He won't miss those - Rikiya Matsuda slots over and there's just one point in it.

  17. Penalty to Japanpublished at 31 mins

    England 10-6 Japan

    Jonny May is late and gifts Japan a really soft penalty.

  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 20:37 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

    #bbcrugby or text 81111 (UK only - standard rates apply)

    When are we going to get a No.10 whose first thought isn't to kick?!

    Alan, Preston

    As good as our forwards have been at times, our backs are once again letting us down. No penetration, no ideas. Kick, kick, kick. Run with it boys!

    Anon

  19. Missed penaltypublished at 30 mins

    England 10-6 Japan

    George Ford has a discussion about kicking to the corner but ticking over the scoreboard is the priority and the fly-half goes for the points. But it's always wide and drifts past the posts...

  20. Postpublished at 29 mins

    England 10-6 Japan

    England kicked their way to victory against Argentina last week with 14 men but the onus was never on them to be expansive, of course. The expectation is there tonight but it's been lacking in flair so far. That lead will give them confidence though, surely. And they do have a penalty.