England made it two wins from two in Pool D of the 2023 Rugby World Cup with a 34-12 triumph over Japan at the Stade de Nice.
Snapping a World Cup try drought stretching back to 2019, Lewis Ludlam, Courtney Lawes, Freddie Steward and Joe Marchant crossed the line for Steve Borthwick's side, who were unimaginative for the most part before coming to life in the final 20 minutes to extend their lead at the top of the section.
A pair of Rikiya Matsuda penalties cancelled out an earlier George Ford effort during the opening stages, but with 25 minutes on the clock, England registered their first World Cup try since 2019 through one of Borthwick's three changes.
After Japan made a meal of a lineout close to the try line, number eight Ludlam collected the ball and managed to bulldoze his way through, before Ford made no mistake with the conversion.
England's lead was somewhat against the run of play, and another pair of Matsuda and Ford penalties saw Borthwick's men enter the break 13-9 to the good, but there was a real lack of ingenuity to their game.
However, Borthwick's men finally drew some excitement in the 56th minute through a charging run from Ben Earl, and they were rewarded for their endeavours, as the ball worked its way to captain Lawes to score unopposed.
Ford's pass had deflected off of Will Stuart's arm and Joe Marler's head before finding Lawes, and Japan stopped in anticipation of a knock-on being called as the skipper ran through, but the try was given.
England suddenly had their tails up, and the third try arrived with 66 minutes on the clock, as Ford's kick out to the left found a bursting Steward, who was taken out but managed to tap the ball down before rolling over the sideline.
Borthwick's men huffed and puffed for the bonus point try, which did not appear to be forthcoming, but with over 80 minutes on the clock, Marchant found a gap and just about got over the line to add to the tally.
England's third Pool D game takes them to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille for a date with Chile next Saturday, while Japan have 10 full days to recuperate before a showdown with Samoa in Toulouse on September 28.
Ben Knapton
