England v Japan

[Margin_Walker]

@catogrande

Yep, obviously a huge caveat with this game. Will be watching with interest all the same

[Stargazer]

Japan

Captain: Michael Leitch

[Bones]

This is a great game. England lucky to survive with 15 players as long as they did.

Japan so far looking really up to it. Smart attacking play, defence a bit leaky but if they can keep up the possession...

England level it up at 10 all on 28 mins.

[Bones]

Leitch showing sweet feet on the right wing! 15-10 to Japan.

[sparky]

Pleased for Japan. Dare we hope for a repeat of their 2015 shock win.

Eddie Jones' comments about going to the temple to pray look not only insulting but patronising and unwise now.

[Bones]

Annnd that's the halftime score, although Japan really should have scored again if Leitch wasn't a hungus.

[Bones]

@sparky what did he say?

[sparky]

England being dominated by Japan in that first half.

In the dry weather, Japan able to play at a pace and with an agility England can't cope with.

[sparky]

@bones

161385360554578  /  Nov 12, 2018  /  Sport

Eddie Jones tells Japan to 'go to the temple and pray' ahead of England clash

Eddie Jones has told Japan to ‘go to the temple and pray’ as he plots a physical battering of the team he coached at the 2015 World Cup. Any doubts concerning Jones’ future have s…

[ShadowTrooper]

Sevearl thoughts
Michael Leitch is just awesome
Tanaka's pass is still pretty crisp
From the other match - See Tonga had an "Owen Farrell" tackle moment , which Nic Berry awarded a penalty to Wales
Don't know what England are smoking they seem devoid of any sort of plan
Eddie Jones lloks like a pratt of the highest order with those temple comments
Japan coached by New Zealander and England coached by half Japanese Aussie - Go figure the world has gone mad!

[Mick Gold Coast QLD]

@sparky

One trusts you are aware Eddie's mother is Japanese, as is his wife, and that he has spent a good many years living there and coaching at club and national level. I would think that Eddie, a cautious man, is a fairly good judge of what can and cannot be said in these circumstances in comparison to you and me.

[sparky]

@mick-gold-coast-qld

Well aware of Eddie's Japanese links and I suspect there was more than a tongue in check element about his trash talk. He gave those remarks in response to a jouurnalist who asked him about Michael Leith's comment about Japan wanting revenge on Eddie for all the slogging he gave them. 😉

England have brought on Underhill who I think will make a difference.

[sparky]

George Ford kicks a penalty. 13-15.

[ShadowTrooper]

Yep England turning this into a bore-fest now, penalties starting to go their way, kicking to corners ho-hum

[sparky]

England holding onto the ball better. Mark Wilson scores a try. Kick over. 20-15.

[Bones]

@sparky oh dear.

[sparky]

England looking the better side now. The guys off the bench have raised the intensity. This might be a difficult last 15 minutes for Japan.

[sparky]

England with another penalty. Ford from 25 metres. 23-15. England have turned this around.

[sparky]

England score another try. Cockansiga. 30-15. Eight to play.

[sparky]

Most of England's backline drive a maul. Hartley over. 35-15. Three to play. England's bench gave them a physical edge and better decision-makers.