England v Japan

England at their imperious peak; a 53-point margin that said everything about where this squad was headed.

At the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, England met Japan in the pool stage and won 60-7. Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall, and the rest of Clive Woodward's squad were at their imperious peak. England went on to win the tournament with that famous drop goal in the final against Australia. For Japan, the scoreline was painful, but the experience of competing at the highest level continued to build the foundations for what was to come.

Twickenham became autumn's northern fortress; Japan brought the invention.

The formalisation of the November international window gave southern hemisphere and emerging nations a regular slot to tour the north. For Twickenham, it meant a guaranteed run of high-profile fixtures each autumn, turning the stadium into a fortress of test rugby outside the Six Nations. Japan became an increasingly welcome visitor, their brand of fast, inventive rugby offering something different from the traditional northern hemisphere fare.

Three tries in the final quarter; Japan won three matches and still went home early.

The 2015 Rugby World Cup, hosted by England, produced one of the greatest upsets in sporting history. Japan, coached by Eddie Jones, defeated South Africa 34-32 at the Brighton Community Stadium in a match that rewrote the script for tier-two nations. Three tries in the final quarter, capped by Karne Hesketh's last-gasp score, sent shockwaves through the sport. Japan won three of their four pool matches but still failed to qualify for the quarter-finals on points difference. The result changed how the world viewed Japanese rugby permanently.

The scoreline said comfortable; Japan's two fine tries told a different story.

England beat Japan 35-15 at Twickenham in the 2018 Autumn Internationals, but the scoreline flattered the hosts. Japan, under Jamie Joseph, played with ambition and flair, scoring two excellent tries and troubling England's defence throughout. Eddie Jones, now coaching England, knew better than anyone what Japan were capable of. The match confirmed that the fixture had evolved well beyond a warm-up game; Japan were a side that demanded respect and full preparation.

Japan beat Ireland and Scotland to reach their first quarter-final; overnight, England v Japan became a must-see fixture rather than a footnote.

Hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Japan topped their pool with victories over Ireland and Scotland, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time. The tournament was a cultural phenomenon, with matches played in front of passionate home crowds and the Brave Blossoms becoming national heroes. They eventually lost to South Africa 26-3 in the last eight, but the tournament cemented Japan's status as a genuine force. The knock-on effect for fixtures like the Autumn Internationals was immediate: England v Japan was no longer a curiosity but a headline act.

Eight tries scored, yet Japan's attacking intent stole the real headlines.

The 2022 Autumn Nations Series saw England defeat Japan 52-13 at Twickenham. England were clinical, scoring eight tries, but Japan's willingness to play expansive rugby even when behind kept the crowd engaged throughout. The fixture had become a reliable highlight of the November window, offering a contrast to the more attritional encounters against southern hemisphere opposition. For hospitality guests, the combination of high-tempo rugby and a festive late-autumn atmosphere at Twickenham made it one of the most enjoyable days of the series.

Eddie Jones returning to face England with Japan is the kind of storyline the November programme rarely writes for itself.

Japan return to Twickenham as part of the 2025 Autumn Internationals, a fixture that now carries genuine weight and anticipation. With Eddie Jones back at the helm of Japan for a second stint, the narrative writes itself. The Brave Blossoms continue to close the gap on the established nations, and their brand of high-tempo, offloading rugby makes them one of the most entertaining sides to watch in the world game. For those in the hospitality suites, it promises to be one of the standout days of the November programme.