Match Centre: Japan 17-52 England

Japan 17-52 England, National Stadium, Tokyo

England came up with a eight try riot as they started the summer series with a 52-17 victory at National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday.

Japan was coached by former England coach Eddie Jones, who is on his second stint with the Brave Blossoms but they failed to capitalise on yellow card to Marcus Smith and red card to Charlie Ewels.

Japan opened their account early as England failed to roll away at ruck and Seung Sin Lee kicked the three-pointer to start the proceedings. England responded back almost immediately as Chandler Cunningham-South tackled past a couple of defenders after Maro Itoje helped them set a rolling maul. Marcus Smith kicked the conversion to make it 3-7.

England continued to accelerate as Ollie Lawrence and Alex Mitchell combined to help Smith slide under the poles and he also kicked the conversion to make it 3-14. The third try for Steve Borthwick's men came inside 30 minutes as strong carries from Lawrence and Ben Earl created the space with eventually Smith sent a floating pass for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to touchdown.

Smith's third conversion meant England raced to a 3-21 lead. As the half time was nearing, Smith was once again instrumental as he sent a cross-field kick for Henry Slade to dot down as they completed the opening half with a 3-26 lead.

There was no respite for the Brave Blossoms as England forwards allowed Alex Mitchell to move within striking distance from a rolling maul as he went over the line to make it 3-31 before he created the gap with the right pass for Earl to go over the line in the 50th minute making it 3-38.

England suffered their first setback as Smith was sin-binned in the 55th minute for a tackling Yazaki off the ball but despite being down by a player, England extended the lead further as Harry Randall went over the line for their seventh try and this Slade converted in the absence of Smith making it 3-45.

Japan finally showed better intent in the 68th minute when strong carry from Kai Yamamoto allowed Koga Nezuka to go over the line and Samisoni Tua followed the suit making it 17-45. England had their second yellow card when Ewels was sin-binned for a cynical foul which was later upgraded to red and despite that Sam Underhill went over at the back of a rolling maul as Borthwick's men completed a 35 point victory as they now head to New Zealand for a two-game Test series against the All Blacks.

Team line up:

Japan: Yazaki; Naikabula, Riley, Osada, Nezuka; Lee, Sato; Mohara, Harada, Takeuchi, Waqa, Dearns, Leitch (cap), Costley, Makisi.

Replacements: Sakate, Miura, Tamefusa, Saumaki, Yamamoto, Fujiwara, Matsuda, Tua.

England: Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman; M Smith, Mitchell; Rodd, George (c), Cole, Itoje, Martin, Cunningham-Smith, Underhill, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Marler, Stuart, Ewels, Curry, Randall, F Smith, Roebuck.