Back-rower Lewis Ludlam has delivered a message to disappointed England fans, urging them to continue supporting Steve Borthwick’s team, even in the face of dissatisfaction following Sunday night’s recent Rugby World Cup performance.
“It was humid in that stadium and a couple of times we tried to play and we gave the ball away and we ended up straight back on our try line.
“George (Ford) was very good at putting us in the right areas, putting the ball in behind to give us a better opportunity to attack further up the pitch.
“It’s hard to get the fans excited about that. We understand but we’re building and, like I say, we will take more opportunities and we will be a better team next week and play in the right areas of the pitch.
“Japan are a brilliant team, they made it really hard for us at times. They played in the right areas of the pitch, they put the ball in behind us a few times and put us under some real heat. Probably not the performance we wanted, not a complete performance, but happy to get the win and the five points.
“We need to probably execute our set-piece a bit better. We let one or two go amiss and ball security as well, we probably gave the ball back to them way too many times. Steve said after the game there is heaps we can work on over the next couple of days, put those wrongs right and we will be a better team next week.”
Four England players Steve Borthwich should drop and who should replace them
#1. Jonny May
Express 5/10: “Clumsy late challenge on Lemeki handed Rikiya Matsuda a simple penalty and added to the self-inflicted pressure on England.”
Mail Online 4/10: “Did not touch the ball in the first 40 minutes and conceded a penalty for a late hit that gifted territory to Japan.”
Rugby Pass 4/10: “Not a game for wingers. When is it ever in the Borthwick era? Didn’t feature in the opening half apart from a leap to cover a Japan cross kick that went into touch and then a late clip on a clearing kicker that gave the opposition a scored penalty from where the ball landed. “
The Guardian 5/10: “Didn’t touch the ball in the first half, though gave a needless penalty away, but more involved in second. Is in the side to chase kicks.”
Replacement: Henry Arundell