Will Joseph equals England try record in thrashing of Eddie Jones’ Japan

England 78-15 Japan Will Joseph marked his return to the England team after a four-year absence with a first-half hattrick as Japan were thrashed 78-15 at Twickenham. The winger, who made his England debut in 2022 but has not played since, was recalled to the starting XV to replace the injured Manny Feyi-Waboso and took just 59 seconds to take advantage with the first score of a busy day for the scorers. And it was only 18 minutes later that he completed a hattrick, following in brother Jonathan’s footsteps 10 years after he bagged three against Italy. But Joseph Jr was not done at three, picking up a fourth before half-time and a fifth afterwards, surely confirming he will win his third cap against the All Blacks next week. Only once in England’s history had they scored more points in a first half of rugby, during which they scored eight tries, Freddie Steward, the thundering Ellis Genge, Cadan Murley, and Ben Earl on the back of a steamroller maul all making it 49-10 at the break. Substitutions, the inevitability of the result and the deflation of a crowd perhaps bored by the relentless tryscoring did seem to rub off on England in the second half. Japan capitalised, picking up a second try through replacement prop Opeti Helu off a neat line-out move, but it only served to poke the beast of England: George Martin dived over, Ben Curry bagged his first in England colours, Marcus Smith stepped his way around the flagging Japanese defence and Joseph – who else? – picked up a record-equalling fifth try.What could England feasibly gain the last quarter of this game? There are plenty of carrots on the horizon, with the All Blacks visiting next week and further off, a World Cup squad to be named at the end of next summer. Steve Borthwick’s bench was filled with men who currently find themselves in the “possible” category for a ticket to Australia next year rather than “probable”, all running on with something to prove. None made a bigger impact, arguably, than Greg Fisilau. This was only his second cap and while his short-range pick-and-go try will not live long in the memory, some of the collisions in midfield will. His father Kenni played centre for Tonga but his son is a back-rower and one who could yet prove to be a very useful weapon in Borthwick’s growing armoury.