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England will head to rugby’s final frontier to confront the All Blacks armed with myriad benefits from a compelling warm-up – a hybrid asset, a new sensation and a clinical streak in attack.
Japan couldn’t with-stand the onslaught after a bright start and the visitors finished up with eight tries as proof that the creative advance made at the end of the Six Nations was no flash in the pan.
They also finished with Ben Earl operating in midfield, which was a highly significant development in the quest for extra dimensions.
The versatile Saracen made his name as an openside, before seizing possession of the England No 8 shirt since last summer and now showing that he has the pace and dexterity to do a passable impression of an inside centre.
As Steve Borthwick seeks to add layers to the national team’s expanding repertoire, the sight of Earl thriving in the back line was a positive step along the way.
England go into their Test with New Zealand on the back of a comfortable win over Japan
The sight of Ben Earl thriving in the back line was a positive step for Steve Borthwick’s side
Marcus Smith produced an excellent performance as England ran in eight tries against Japan
What it means is that – years after Eddie Jones floated the idea – England have started to actually develop an all-rounder, giving them precious flexibility, not that the man himself was entirely sure about the logic of relocating him.
‘I’ve got no idea what the tactical thought behind it was,’ quipped Earl. ‘I just got told by Kev (Sinfield) and thought, “perfect, crack on”. It doesn’t really change anything for me. Bar scrums, that was pretty much it. I was there at the end, at 12.
‘It’s not something that’s too alien to me. Saracens had been going with a six-two (bench) at the end of the season, so I’d been doing a fair bit there. The way I play, there’s quite a lot of inter-change anyway. Maybe everyone is just a little bit faster, that’s basically it.’
Borthwick took stock of the experiment and expressed his satisfaction, adding: ‘Ben has the speed, the skill-set and the rugby brain to be able to play almost anywhere on the field. Fundamentally, in any unstructured situation, you back him.
However, Earl in midfield is not about to become a starting option. Asked if he would pick him at 12 or move him there later in games, Borthwick added: ‘The latter. He is an outstanding back-row forward, then we have the flexibility to move him from that role into another role. That’s how we see it working.’
The win over Japan will allow England to take a collective mood of confidence to New Zealand, for their long run-in to the first Test in Dunedin on July 6.
All the optimism generated by the strategic liberation which took place in the later stages of the Six Nations was enhanced by the ruthlessness shown in attack here. When chances came, they took them. In the ‘red zone’ – the opposition 22 – English minds were not scrambled as they have been so often in the past.
It was heartening to see a hit-the-ground-running display, albeit against limited, inexperienced rivals.
A half-century of points in hot and humid conditions represented a polished team effort even if they became ragged in the last quarter, when outbreaks of cramp wrecked the best-laid plans in terms of how replacements were deployed.
A half-century of points in hot and humid conditions represented a polished team effort
Joe Marler pictured with Japan and former England head coach Eddie Jones after the game
The blitz defence needs re-tightening and the discipline was an area of concern long before Charlie Ewels was rightly sent off, but overall most boxes were ticked.
That is certainly the case at blindside, where Chandler Cunningham-South delivered a thunderous display in his first England start, despite rolling his ankle early on.
While Earl’s impact was all about being adaptable, the strides made by the New Zealand-raised Harlequins flanker relate to becoming more of a specialist, to fit into what Borthwick expects from those who wear the No 6 shirt. In doing so, he aided his quest to become the long-term successor to the great Courtney Lawes.
‘We need our six to be a lineout forward,’ said the head coach, reinforcing the sense that he won’t consider reuniting the ‘Kamikaze Kids’ – Sam Underhill and Tom Curry – in the same starting back row. ‘Chandler has done a lot of work at his club to become an effective lineout forward. He wasn’t a year ago.
England can arrive into their tour in New Zealand without any form of trepidation
‘In tough conditions, he rolls his ankle, but was desperate to stay on the pitch. I thought he carried hard. You saw that fight for the first try and some of the impact he has in the tackle is formidable. Gradually he’s getting fitter and fitter. I see him making a lot of growth, but we’re only scratching the surface. The potential for him is enormous.’
The same could be said for England as a whole. Half-backs Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith combined well, full-back George Furbank was a smooth operator and hard-working defender, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored again and troubled the home defence, and Tom Roebuck showed a dazzling flash of his running threat on debut. Up front, Underhill was superb and Maro Itoje’s influence grew before he took over the captaincy in the second half.
Job done. Boxes ticked. Strides made. Now for New Zealand. The hosts are in transition and England can arrive without trepidation. They have some momentum and they have some hope. It should be a fascinating few weeks and it could be a close-encounter series.
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