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.
この記事は The Rugby Paper の September 17, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Rugby Paper の September 17, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.