Japan vs England - Sat 6.50am

[Mikey Brown]

Japan literally look like they're in fast forward.

Smith and Furbank seem to be switching around a lot.

[Which Tyler]

App is juddery, but Japan... 'kin 'ell.

Cole is going to need a defibrillator at HT

[Which Tyler]

Ramos needs to be quicker getting to the mark and letting Japan play. It's not his job to give England oxygen

[Puja]

Eleven minutes in and we have yet to actually have possession. Think I might go back to bed!

Really good start from Japan. Just about everything they're trying is working and England can't stop giving away penalties and territory.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Ramos needs to be quicker getting to the mark and letting Japan play. It's not his job to give England oxygen

Yeah it’s weird. They’re playing lightning fast and then the ref is allowing a ton of time wasting/breathers.

[Mr Mwenda]

Oh dear, sounds like England are maybe getting Jonesed.

No joy with the app in Sweden, i can watch Hong Kong play in two hours maybe that'll do

[Which Tyler]

Looks to me like we're panicking at the tempo.

Slade Mya needs a countdown clock on kicking to touch.

Play keep-ball and this'll be easy. Play Quins-ball and my money would be on Japan

[Puja]

First genuine bit of possession and it's a first try. Hopefully the start of the floodgates opening.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

No need to get I to a kicking duel here.

I guess it's still the Borthwick way

[jimKRFC]

No joy with the app in Sweden, i can watch Hong Kong play in two hours maybe that'll do

Not working for me in Menorca either...

Hopefully it'll work for the women's final though.

[Mikey Brown]

Don’t worry. The length of time between passages of play is completely sucking any interest out of this game. Considering going back to bed as well to be honest.

[Puja]

Second genuine bit of possession and England score a second try.

Weird game - Japan have 75% of the ball and most of the territory but, despite showing some nice fast play, they've not looked like scoring a try.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

WTF Rodd?

[Margin_Walker]

Nice Try.

Bevan Rodd though

[Puja]

Third genuine bit of possession didn't yield a try, but Japan kick it to Smith who puts in a beautiful 50:22 and we then score from that. Far too easy now.

Puja

[Puja]

WTF Rodd?

The Gallic shrug from the referee was excellent.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Smith is doing some cool shit, but is he “managing” the game?

[Renniks]

Smith is doing some cool shit, but is he “managing” the game?

Slightly harder to manage the game when every third trundle forward we give up a penalty or knock the ball on…

I do feel we're fortunate that we're against an inexperienced Japan here…

[FKAS]

Smith is doing some cool shit, but is he “managing” the game?

Hard to say as the camera angles are quite narrow on the breakdowns. Is he in behind barking orders or is Mitchell calling the shots and giving it to Smith when there's the opportunity.

I certainly think Marcus has grown into the game very well. He gave away the pen for Japan to slot the three and then we barely saw him before that nice set piece try (kudos to Wigglesworth). After that try he came alive, the 50/22 was exactly the right kind of game management and the crossfield to Slade well worked.

[Which Tyler]

Slightly harder to manage the game when every third trundle forward we give up a penalty or knock the ball on…

Absolutely fair, but he's not answering any of peoples' questions about him.

I keep being told that he's developed very good game management, but he never seems to show it when I watch him play (which isn't all that often). I just want to actually see it for myself.


ETA:

Hard to say as the camera angles are quite narrow on the breakdowns. Is he in behind barking orders or is Mitchell calling the shots and giving it to Smith when there's the opportunity.

Also fair, though it does look to me like it's Mitchell doing the game management for him (much like Care does at Quin's - when I watch them). Though, as you say, we do t really see how shouty Marcus is being to Mitchell and his other backs.

[Beasties]

Bloody love watching Japan play. Japanese scrum is solid, Cole and Rodd making no impression, with ref getting every scrum pen right, which makes a change. Ref having decent game overall actually.

[fivepointer]

is it me or is this oddly unengaging?

England will run out comfortable winners but it would be nice to see a bit more fluency in their play.

[Mikey Brown]

is it me or is this oddly unengaging?

England will run out comfortable winners but it would be nice to see a bit more fluency in their play.

Yeah I’m quite enjoying both teams with the ball but it’s endless penalties and stoppages.

Some of the tries then feel a bit too easy. Maybe we can stop running entirely and focus on Smith shouting more.

[Which Tyler]

Generous of Ramos to think Cole was covering both 15 and 12 himself.


I can see why (he's a realistic chance of tackling 15, but momentum is against him, and angles means he's unlikely to tie up the arms - which all introduces uncertainty), and he's enough to give the ref a decision to make .

[Renniks]

Generous of Ramos to think Cole was covering both 15 and 12 himself.

Generous to think he's covering either 15 or 12!