Will Joseph marked his return to international rugby by scoring five tries in England’s 78-15 victory over Japan.
The performance matched a national record previously shared by Douglas Lambert, Rory Underwood, Josh Lewsey and Henry Arundell, “as England tore through Japan”, according to Yahoo Sports.
Joseph, who previously made a single appearance for England four years ago, utilized his pace and intelligence to exploit gaps in the Japanese defense.
The match saw England establish a commanding 32-3 lead within the first 20 minutes of play.
Japan struggled to maintain its rhythm after second-row forward Harry Hockings was issued a 20-minute red card for a high tackle on Ellis Genge.
The match was further marked by the presence of Jonathan Joseph, the player’s older brother, who watched the proceedings from a pitchside role.
Other try-scorers for England included Freddie Steward, Ellis Genge, Harry Murley, Ben Earl, George Martin, Ben Curry, Marcus Smith and Greg Fisilau.
Japan managed two tries from Warner Dearns and Jone Naikabula Helu, with Saito adding a conversion and a penalty.
Despite the lopsided score, England head coach Steve Borthwick is looking ahead to a challenging upcoming fixture against New Zealand.
The hosts entered the autumn series as underdogs, but recent performances have shifted expectations.
England’s forward pack exerted significant pressure throughout the contest, facilitating multiple scoring opportunities for the backline.
Max Ojomoh, who returned to the lineup after a year-long absence, contributed to the offensive effort by creating space for his teammates.
Replacement scrum-half Archie McParland earned his first England cap during the second half.
George Ford managed the backline for much of the game before being replaced by Marcus Smith in the 57th minute.
The victory serves as a momentum builder for England as they prepare to face an All Blacks side following their recent defeat by Wales.
As noted in “an almost perfect day” for the team, the squad remains focused on maintaining this form.