England vs Tonga LIVE: Rugby result and reaction from 2021 autumn international fixture today
Follow all the latest updates from Twickenham as Eddie Jones’ side begin their autumn campaign
England responded to the loss of captain Owen Farrell to a positive Covid test by overwhelming Tonga 69-3 in their Autumn Nations Series opener.
The first 82,000 full house at Twickenham for 20 months because of the coronavirus pandemic noisily celebrated a 11-try rout led by Jonny May, Ben Youngs and Jamie George, who each crossed twice.
Victory was completed despite a disrupted build-up that saw Farrell withdraw as fly-half and captain after testing positive for Covid with confirmation of his absence delivered only 90 minutes before kick-off.
George Furbank was promoted to chief conductor for his fifth cap and a rookie who is more accustomed to playing full-back rose to the occasion by showing several attacking flourishes until he was replaced by Marcus Smith.
The intention had been for Farrell and Smith to form a playmaking axis but Covid and Smith’s leg injury sabotaged that plan and instead the Harlequins prodigy had to wait until the 53rd minute to step off the bench.
Smith entered the fray at a time when England were becoming scruffy in the face of successful Tongan spoiling but his arrival gave Eddie Jones’ men a second wind and he picked a brilliant support line to finish a break by man of the match Henry Slade.
The 22-year-old’s afternoon was marred only when he was elbowed on the floor in the 70th minute by Viliami Fine, who was sent off as a result.
One to watch - Ellis Genge
Ellis Genge, now an England vice-captain, rarely lacks for intensity but he might just have a little something extra this afternoon. While Joe Marler returns to the bench, refreshed after his break from international rugby, with Mako Vunipola moved on, this is a chance for Genge to seize the starting loosehead shirt as he enters his theoretical prime years.
His elevation to the leadership team is a mark of both his standing in Eddie Jones’ thoughts and his evolution as a player, and the reports from Leicester since his appointment as captain at Welford Road have been of a player with unique ability to relate to his fellow players.
One to watch - Ben Tameifuna
It is reasonably hard to miss Ben Tameifuna. A great boulder of a human being he is a strong scrummaging anchor on the tight head of almost comical size. He’s slimmed down a touch after falling foul of old club Racing 92 after the 2019 World Cup but offers a nuanced attacking game, ever a threat on the carry, of course, but also able to challenge as a close-to-the-line distributor.
Look out for back-up loosehead Loni Uhila, too. The man they call the Tongan Bear has dropped down the divisions in France but is a multi-faceted attacking threat reared at the Hurricanes in New Zealand.
One to watch - Freddie Steward
Described by Eddie Jones as a “taller Mike Brown” this week, Freddie Steward starts in the 15 shirt after a mightily impressive last couple of years at Leicester. He is of a classical full-back mould, particularly strong under the high ball and possessing an easy acceleration to second gear to go along with sharp linking hands.
He has looked largely to the manor born since his arrival at senior level rugby but this is his first opportunity in the fuly-fledged England side. Elliot Daly’s injury absence may have opened the door slightly but Steward is a player of quality who could become a fixture in this side.
England out to be ‘more aggressive’ in attack
It all rather became redundant after yesterday’s Farrell news, but Eddie Jones spoke this week of a need for this new-look England to be “more aggressive”, having drawn a “line in a sand” after their Six Nations struggles earlier in the year.
Eddie Jones aims to unleash England’s misfiring attack against Tonga
The head coach wants England to be more aggressive and, perhaps, more entertaining too as 82,000 supporters are at last allowed to return to Twickenham
Team News - Tonga
Tonga, meanwhile, are as advertised, as far as we are aware. Sione Vailanu will be a familiar name, with the number eight now a seasoned Premiership regular after stints at Saracens, Wasps and Worcester, while captain Sonatane Takulua’s cultured kicking game and threat around the fringes will be familiar to Newcastle fans.
There are debuts for Lopeti Timani, Afusipa Taumopeau and former NRL star Solomone Kata in a side with plenty of experience - and power.
Team News - England
Let’s confirm the team news in full, then. England begin with a remodelled back row, Tom Curry at number eight ahead of Alex Dombrandt and reunited with Sam Underhill, who combines with captain Courtney Lawes on the flanks. New vice-captain Ellis Genge is the loosehead, with Jamie George, having earned a reprieve after Luke Cowan-Dickie’s injury, back in the squad and back in from the start.
Behind the scrum, Adam Radwan and Freddie Steward will look to build on promising summer fixtures in the back three, while Manu Tuilagi, like the 82,000 fans or so expected to busy the rafters today, is back at Twickenham for the first time since England’s Six Nations clash with Wales in March 2020.
An opportunity for Mark Atkinson
On to the bench, meanwhile, steps Mark Atkinson for a potential debut. The Gloucester man has plenty of excellent qualities - an upright carrying 12 with deft hands and an underrated short kicking game. He could fit well with fellow replacement Marcus Smith, who has thrived with a similar player in Andre Esterhuizen alongside him across the Chertsey Road at the Stoop.
How the team news changes England
It is a gamble from Eddie Jones to start George Furbank at fly-half but he has long been keen to see the Northampton man in the ten shirt. He endured a reasonably tough debut against France last year, but Tonga should allow him plenty of opportunity to play instinctively. Manu Tuilagi will be a useful crutch alongside him, of course, and you’d expect England to utilise their midfield carriers early and often. It will be interesting to see how Furbank fares.
England vs Tonga Preview
Eddie Jones faces decision at fly-half after Owen Farrell’s positive Covid-19 test
George Furbank and Marcus Smith are in position to play at No 10 against Tonga while Courtney Lawes could take on the captaincy
England vs Tonga - Team News
The RFU have not yet confirmed, but that will presumably also mean Owen Farrell is out of next weekend’s clash with Australia.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies