The likelihood is nothing quite as dramatic as those extremes when the teams meet at the 36,000 capacity Allianz Riviera Nice Stadium this evening.
Japan have not beaten England in their 10 previous meetings at international level dating back to 1971, and when the teams met ten months ago at Twickenham they were blasted 52-13, despite England being in the last throes of the Eddie Jones regime.
The chances of a convincing England win over Japan, who now face a Red Rose team under the aegis of Steve Borthwick – the “Brave Blossoms” forwards coach from the Brighton epic – were not good a week ago, after a dire run of only three wins in nine Tests coming in to the tournament.
However, England have been boosted significantly by the control and efficiency they showed when a 27-point goal-kicking masterclass from fly-half George Ford, including a rat-tat-tat of three dropgoals, steered them to a 27-10 win over Argentina in their Pool D opener in Marseille last weekend.
The other factor in this forecast of another England win is the possibility they might just have found their feet again after three years drifting in the doldrums following the 2019 World Cup final defeat in Yokohama.
By contrast, Japan’s hopes of another giant-killing result appears to have receded, because the anticipated boom from their success in hosting the 2019 tournament has not materialised.
Coach Jamie Joseph’s outfit are no longer riding the wave of public and media adulation after the pyrotechnics in which Japan ran Ireland, Scotland, Samoa, and Russia ragged to win all four pool games.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.
