A disappointing year for England's rugby team has concluded with a burst of tries and a more promising result. A high-scoring match against a young Japanese team on a windy Sunday afternoon, however, does little to improve the overall performance record. With five wins out of 12 Tests, including victories against Japan twice, Italy, and Wales, the team appears stronger when facing weaker opponents. At least there were glimpses of potential from the home team in burgundy.

Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie each scored two tries, while Henry Slade had a solid game in midfield. However, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa would likely have scored closer to 80 points. This match was akin to shooting fish in a barrel and far from the level of England's previous November fixtures. An inexperienced Japan side, without their suspended lock Werner Dearns, was outclassed and offered little resistance in the first half, showing slight improvement in the second.

The swirling wind was expected to complicate matters, but England hardly needed to shift out of third gear in the first 40 minutes. They had already scored three tries within the first 23 minutes and would have had a fourth if not for a small knock-on by Jack van Poortvliet. England's lead in multiple areas questioned the hosts' safety-first selection policy.

The starting lineup, with minimal experimentation, seemed chosen on the basis that England couldn't afford to lose. Tom Curry, in particular, was rushed back after being knocked out against Australia, raising concerns about player welfare. However, it did boost George's try tally, with the captain scoring twice from driven mauls.

George Furbank and Slade's fingertip passing led to Ollie Sleightholme's try just before halftime, a welcome improvement from England's previous performances. Japanese highlights were sparse, with Naoto Saito's long-range try being the exception. By halftime, the score was 35-7, with Sleightholme matching his father's try count in just two weeks.

The crowd saw glimpses of potential from newcomers like Sale's 20-year-old prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour, who was given the last 25 minutes to impress. England also showed occasional flashes of skill, notably in the build-up to their sixth try. With Fin Smith and Harry Randall at half-back, and Marcus Smith at full-back, England hoped to increase their pace in the final stages.

Cowan-Dickie scored England's seventh try before Japan responded with a well-executed try by Kazuki Himeno. Cowan-Dickie scored again, and Tom Roebuck added to the damage. Finally, England's bench made a noticeable impact, though it felt somewhat limited.

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