England
Japan
W. Joseph (0', 9', 19', 24', 55'), F. Steward (14'), E. Genge (17'), C. Murley (28'), B. Earl (39'), G. Martin (44'), B. Curry (63'), M. Smith (67'), G. Fisilau (72')
Tries
W. Dearns (36'), O. Helu (47')
G. Ford (14', 18', 40'), H. Slade (56', 68')
Conversions
N. Saito (37')
G. Ford (7')
Penalties
N. Saito (13')
England beat Japan 78–15 at Allianz Stadium on 14 November, with Will Joseph scoring five of their 13 tries in an emphatic Nations Championship Round 5 victory.
The hosts led 49–10 at half-time and added five more tries after the break. Japan had Harry Hockings sent off early, while Warner Dearns and Opeti Helu supplied their two tries on a difficult afternoon in Twickenham.
Joseph turns a fast start into five tries
Joseph struck in the opening minute and again in the ninth, then completed his hat-trick in the 19th minute. A fourth followed five minutes later, giving England a decisive attacking contribution before the interval.
Freddie Steward, Ellis Genge and Cadan Murley also crossed during that first-half surge. Dearns answered for Japan in the 36th minute, but Ben Earl added England’s eighth try just before the break. Naoto Saito’s conversion and earlier penalty accounted for the rest of Japan’s first-half points.
The distribution of England’s tries was significant. Joseph provided the headline finishing, but the scores from Genge and Earl meant Japan were being hurt by forwards as well as backs. England had built a 39-point cushion by half-time, leaving the visitors chasing a contest that had already moved well beyond reach.
England keep scoring after the interval
George Martin scored England’s ninth try early in the second half. Helu responded for Japan, and England subsequently lost Luke Cowan-Dickie to a yellow card, but neither development stopped the hosts extending their advantage.
Joseph claimed his fifth in the 55th minute, taking England into double figures for tries. Ben Curry, Marcus Smith and Greg Fisilau then joined the scoring, with Fisilau’s 72nd-minute finish completing the home side’s 13-try return.
George Ford contributed three conversions and a penalty, while Henry Slade added two conversions. England’s 78 points reflected the sheer volume of their try-scoring, even with eight conversions missed.
ATR’s view from the coaches’ boxes
ATR captured the contrasting reactions in the two coaching boxes during England’s commanding performance.
What the result tells us
Japan’s early red card is essential context for the margin. Their two tries showed they could still find a route through, but England’s sustained scoring on either side of half-time prevented any meaningful recovery. For England, Joseph’s five finishes were the standout individual return in a victory shared across nine different try-scorers.
Main photograph: Will Joseph runs in to score England’s tenth try against Japan on 14 November 2026. Credit: Paul Harding – Nations Championship/Nations Championship via Getty Images.