This from resident Tasweigan visitor author & lengthy struggling SD fan, Mr Keith Butler, take it away KB:
Effectively that was an fascinating Spherical 1 however the place does it depart our protagonists. The Cleaning soap Dodgers rose like a phoenix from the ashes to maintain their World Cup hopes alive, defeating the mighty FISMs, in a sport for the purists. Japan however performed some entertaining rugby placing one over on the Chileans. What will we count on from the SDs, a lot the identical however hopefully preserving 15 blokes on the sector this time. From Japan, neglect in regards to the final time they met, this can be a complete totally different ball sport. Anticipate to see numerous working with quick palms and even sooner toes.
The Groups
Jamie Joseph has made 4 adjustments to the beginning workforce following the spherical 1 win over Chile with Shoto Horie, Pieter Labuschagne and captain Kazuki Himeno coming into the pack and Tomoki Osada within the backs.
Japan (15-1): Semisi Masirewa; Kotaro Matsushima, Tomoki Osada, Ryoto Nakamura, Jone Naikabula; Rikiya Matsuda, Yutaka Nagare; Kazuki Himeno (capt), Pieter Labuschagne, Michael Leitch; Amato Fakatava, Jack Cornelsen; Jiwon Gu, Shota Horie, Keita Inagaki
Replacements:Â Atsushi Sakate, Craig Millar, Asaeli Ai Valu, Warner Dearns, Kanji Shimokawa, Naoto Saito, Dylan Riley, Lomano Lemeki
As anticipated Steve Borthwick has caught just about with the workforce that defeated Argentina. No adjustments within the backs. Up entrance Joe Marler begins and Sinckler is available in after recovering from his chest harm. Borthers has resisted the temptation of beginning Vunipola so Billy needed to make do with a spot on the pine.
England (15-1) : Freddie Steward; Johnny Might, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi,Elliott Daly; George Ford, Alex Mitchell;Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje,Ollie Chessum, Courtney Lawes (capt), Ben Earl, Lewis Ludlam.
Replacements:Â Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Martin, Billy Vunipola, Ben Youngs, Marcus Smith, Ollie Lawrence.
The Sport
1st Half
Issues didn’t begin properly for Japan. A fumble from their FB following an innocuous kick from Daley results in an England scrum. Japan then give away a penalty for off facet and Ford slots the penalty. 3-0 to the SDs. England rapidly get into their kick technique and it’s not fairly to look at. Japan present a willingness to run the ball and are rewarded with a penalty on the 15 min mark and its 3-3. Japan proceed to assault. Fast recycling for Japan and England are offside. The following penalty in profitable. 6-3 Japan. England reply, Ford kicks to the nook. Horie makes a multitude of the throw which Itoje slaps again. A few phases later Ludlam barges over for a attempt which Ford converts. 10-6 to England. Within the thirtieth minute Might clatters Lomeki as he places in a clearing kick. A penalty is awarded and Matsuda does the mandatory from the tee. It’s 10-9 to England. A couple of phases later a bit of play sums up Englands first half. England win a penalty. From the catch and drive an extended, boring rolling maul ensues. Earl tries to pop the ball to Ludlam and misses him with a move which then bounces off George who wasn’t anticipating it and he knocks it on. High quality rugby my bottom. To not be outdone Japan reward the ball to England, Matsuda wanders offside. On the stroke of half time Ford slots the penalty and it’s 13-9 to England. An eminently forgettable first half for England. Japan at the least confirmed some enterprise. England the identical outdated dross.
2nd Half
Each groups begin the second half with a bit extra depth and a short interval of thrilling play commences. Precision is nonetheless missing from either side. When England do string some respectable phases collectively they’re let down by poor kicking choices from Ford. Adjustments are made on the 50 min mark with Vunipola and Stuart approaching. Will they make a distinction. No. England give away one other penalty and Japan pull the deficit again to 1 level. We then enter into one other interval of messy play from either side and the joke attempt of the match. Within the fifty fifth minute England run by a number of phases. Earl makes a run down the contact line but it surely tackled. The ball is moved left slapped backwards off Will Stuart’s arms bounces ahead off Joe Marlers head. It’s gathered in by Lawes who canters in whereas Japan watch on ready for a knock on to be known as. Ford converts and it’s 20-12.  Extra subs are made with Ben Younger approaching. Urgh! On the sixty fifth minute mark a really poor scrum exit from Japan finally ends up with Matsuda being pushed again over the road. England win the 5m scrum and Ford delivers a really good cross subject kick into Stewards ready arms and he grounds it. Ford nails the tough conversion and England begin to stretch away. It’s 27-12 to the SDs. We’re now into the final 15 minutes of the match. Japan appear to be tiring and England begin to fling the ball about and for the primary time we appear to have some form. Nonetheless time to make some fairly primary dealing with errors although. Will Stuart’s botches a straightforward take with the road begging. England have the ultimate phrase with Marchant going over for a last attempt following one other line out drive. Ford converts and it’s a 34-12 last rating.
Sport changer
Can’t say that there was one however the joke attempt is likely to be known as a turning level.
Man of the Match
Ben Earls for me had a superb sport. Nice hyperlink play with the backs within the final 15 minutes when Japan have been tiring.
Abstract
England made it two wins from two and safe a bonus level. Nonetheless, it was a little bit of a scrappy laboured efficiency in opposition to a Japanese workforce that simply ran out of legs within the final quarter. It’ll do little to quieten the groups doubters and positively not fear the massive weapons. Chile will attempt to play their working sport however I reckon Samoa will fancy their probabilities within the last pool sport.
