Rugby Tips: England v Japan betting preview and prediction

Japan +22
Jonny May First Try Scorer

Rugby World Cup
Pool D
Stade de Nice, Nice, 8pm
TV: ITV, RTE

Japan +22

The chariot rolled into Marseille last week and started the campaign with a comprehensive 27-10 win over a dreadful Argentina, aided in full by George Ford’s majestic display of kicking and game management. It was a hugely encouraging result for England but it must be said their opponents played horribly for a team that had the added benefit of an extra man for all of 77 minutes.

There were 13 penalties conceded, 15 turnovers, 11 handling errors and four throw-ins lost. You’ll go a long way to find a worse performance by a tier one nation for the rest of the tournament. England kicked the points when needed although they never really threatened the Argentina line. That has been the issue under Steve Borthwick in recent times. The inability to get over the whitewash.

Their slow build up and kick-heavy gameplan has resulted in England only scoring five tries in their last five matches which is cause for concern. This weekend they face a Japanese side who come off the back of a win over Chile.

Japan are notorious for playing spoiler on the biggest stage with famous wins over South Africa and Ireland in the last two World Cups. So it’s well within the ability of the Brave Blossoms to turn over England on Sunday. Although I do feel Borthwick’s side will have enough to win, Japan will make it difficult. I like Japan to cover the handicap of 22 points.

Jonny May First Try Scorer

Jonny May is England’s second highest try scorer and the Gloucester winger still has a lot to offer. His team have struggled in recent weeks for tries but if there’s one man who will be keen to get over the try line it’s May.

With no five-point score in their opening match up, we look back to their previous game against Fiji where May was the first to touchdown and ended a streak of over five hours of rugby without an English back scoring a try.

Japan conceded the first score last week to Chile with a breakaway try, and if England are going to score something similar, don’t be surprised to see May at the end of the move. Take Jonny May first Try scorer.

Japan +22
Jonny May First Try Scorer

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