England secure nine-try win against Japan to break run of five straight defeats

England ended their five-match losing streak with a comprehensive 59-14 rout of Japan at Allianz Stadium.

Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie both scored two tries, while Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ollie Sleightholme, George Furbank and Tom Roebuck also crossed as Steve Borthwick’s side concluded their Autumn Nations series in style.

The hosts’ strength at the lineout culminated in three tries in the opening 25 minutes, with Earl, Underhill and George all going over.

Tommy Freeman was denied following a TMO review, but George grabbed his second just after the half-hour mark to stretch the lead to 28-0.

Japan stopped the rot and got on the scoreboard following a swift counter, with Naoto Saito darting for the line, but Sleightholme responded quickly – chasing his own punt to make it 35-7 at the break.

England picked up from where they left off in the second half, with Freeman’s superb pass behind his back allowing Furbank to touch down.

Cowan-Dickie’s pair of tries sandwiched a consolation effort from Kazuki Himeno, but the hosts had the final word as Roebuck – denied on the line moments earlier – completed the rout with his first international try.