England vs Japan player ratings: George Ford and Joe Cokanasiga inspire comeback victory

Man-for-man marking from England's 35-15 victory over Japan

Jack de Menezes

Twickenham

Sunday 18 November 2018 00:32 GMT

England vs Japan player ratings

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1/15England vs Japan player ratings

England vs Japan player ratings

Alec Hepburn - 5 out of 10

A slightly disappointing display on his return to the starting line-up. Tackled well, but was fairly anonymous in the carrying department.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Jamie George 5 out of 10

Deserved yellow card for brainless penalty as he dived over the ruck to kill a Japanese attack. Did well to link play from Cokanasiga’s pass to release Care for the opening score but the seven points conceded while off the pitch hurt England.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Harry Williams - 5 out of 10

Missed a covering tackle on Michael Leitch along with Dylan Hartley and failed to seize his chance to pressure Kyle Sinckler for the No 3 shirt.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Charlie Ewels - 6 out of 10

Very good defensively, though his ball retention could have been better as he was twice turned over. A noticeable threat in the lineout.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Maro Itoje - 7 out of 10

Another impressive showing from the lock following last week’s display. One eye-catching run saw him beat three defenders, with only Jack Nowell beating more, and he was again England’s go-to man in the lineout.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Courtney Lawes - 6 out of 10

Brought his defensive physicality that helped keep England in the contest in the first half. A useful lineout option, as you’d expect with three natural locks.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Mark Wilson - 6 out of 10

Moved to openside flanker from No 8 and struggled to find the line with referee Paul Williams as he was pinged three times in two minutes. But he led the defensive effort with 21 tackles and richly deserved his maiden international try.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Zach Mercer - 5 out of 10

After his promising display off the bench against the Springboks, this was a harsher reality for the young back-row. Sacrificed to allow Dylan Hartley on while George was in the sin-bin, and replaced soon after half-time as Jones looked for some penetration with through Sam Underhill.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Danny Care - 5 out of 10

Kept up with play well to be on hand to finish the first try as he held off the covering Willi Tupou to score, but missed tackle allowed Leitch to charge through for the try. Strange decision to kick out ball at the end of the first half that summed up England’s performance to that point, and made up for his earlier error with much better try on Leitch.

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England vs Japan player ratings

George Ford - 7 out of 10

The opposite type of leader to Farrell and Dylan Hartley, but it was his performance - particularly in the second half - that really impressed. Set-up Wilson for England’s second try of the afternoon with a smart attacking run to pull Michael Leitch out of position, and won a ruck penalty immediately after that he turned into three points. Kicking record of five from six was a good return.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Chris Ashton - 4 out of 10

Defensively exposed against Kenki Fukuoka as he got around the edge on numerous occasions. Couldn’t compete in the air off Care’s kicks, and forced off with a right calf injury after 31 minutes.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Alex Lozowski - 5 out of 10

Far too easily beaten for the opening Japan try as Ryoto Nakamura stepped him on the line to score. Hauled off at half-time for Owen Farrell.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Jack Nowell - 6 out of 10

Only lasted 30 minutes at outside centre before he was needed to move to the wing to cover for Ashton’s injury. Came into the game in the second half with a number of impressive runs of Farrell and Ford.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Joe Cokanasiga - 7 out of 10

Bright start to his England career with an impressive break in the third minute, and was aware enough to offload to George inside him to score. Strong run through lock Wimpie van der Walt and took his try very well in the second half, but defensively suspect at times.

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England vs Japan player ratings

Elliot Daly - 6 out of 10

Landed a monster penalty from halfway but once again struggled under the high ball. Good counter attack led to the early try.

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England escaped potential embarrassment with a comeback victory over Japan, ensuring that they got back to winning ways at Twickenham.

Eddie Jones knew of the threat that his former side Japan faced, but not even he would have expected the first half that unfolded on the third Quilter International of the autumn, especially as England took the lead in the third minute.

A break down the wing from debutant Joe Cokanasiga saw the ball transferred through Jamie George to Danny Care, with the scrum-half darting over to open the scoring. But any hopes of an easy victory were soon dispatched as Japan fought back with as good as they got, and George's early trip to the sin-bin only helped their cause.

After fly-half Yu Tamura kicked a penalty for Japan, the Brave Blossoms hit back with a simple play off the scrum seeing centre Ryoto Nakamura sidestep Alex Lozowski to score beneath the posts.

George Ford levelled soon after with his first penalty, but Japan struck again. Akihito Yamada managed to offload the ball to flanker Michael Leitch, and the impressive captain wriggled free of Care's tackle, evaded Dylan Hartley and Harry Williams and wrong-footed last man Elliot Daly to score.

The 15-10 lead at the break sent out the alarm bells, and Jones responded by sending on Owen Farrell. The presence of the England co-captain brought calmness to England's cause, and from there-on in the recovery began. Ford kicked his second penalty soon after, before the fly-half sent Mark Wilson over for his first international try with smart play.

Joe Cokanasiga celebrates scoring his first try for England on his debut (Getty)

From there England were able to kick on and a loose high kick found its way into George's arms, who passed to a springing Richard Wigglesworth outside him and the scrum-half sent Cokanasiga over for a try in his debut. There was enough time for Ford to and a final penalty before the team combined to shove Hartley over from a catch and drive to round out the scoring.

So how did the players perform? Click on the gallery above to find out.

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