England’s latest “new era” got off to a spectacular start on Saturday as they ran in 11 tries to crush an outclassed Tonga 69-3 in their first game in front of a Twickenham full house since March 2020.
Jamie George, Jonny May and Ben Youngs each scored twice while Adam Radwan, Maro Itoje, Marcus Smith, Jamie Blamire and debutant Alex Mitchell also crossed as Tonga, hit by yellow and red cards, eventually collapsed.
After the turgid, kick-dominated displays of the last 12 months, coach Eddie Jones had promised a more adventurous England and, even taking into account the less-than-challenging opposition, there certainly seemed to be a willingness to play with the ball.
The absence of Owen Farrell after a positive COVID test proved somewhat fortuitous as George Furbank, long touted as a potential international fly-half by Jones, stepped in for his first international start there and enjoyed pulling the strings and throwing in some of the breaks that have made him such a dangerous full-back.
He then made way for Smith to deliver a sparkling 30-minute cameo as the Twickenham fans got a good glimpse of what they hope will be the man to drive the team all the way to the next World Cup.
Jones, however, will have been just as delighted by the stellar displays of some of his stalwarts, not least Courtney Lawes, who was hugely authoritative, befitting his role as captain for the day, the returning Manu Tuilagi, at his best after another long injury absence, and evergreen scrum-half Youngs on his 110th appearance.
Radwan, who scored a hat trick on his debut against Canada in July, was on the mark again on his second appearance, squeezing over in the corner in the third minute.
Hooker George was driven over for the second and May got a superb third after Tuilagi’s trademark burst through two defenders had splintered the Tongan rearguard. Solomone Kata was sin-binned for taking out May in the air and a minute later Ellis Genge blasted through and popped a pass for Itoje to score only his fourth try in his 49th England match.
Tonga seemed set for their first try after full-back Telusa Veainu intercepted 80 metres out and twice side-stepped opposite number Freddie Steward, only for Lawes to somehow get back and haul him down as he was about to cross for an extraordinary intervention. England finished the half on top as Youngs scampered down the blindside for their fifth try to send them in 29-3 ahead.
A disjointed start to the second half persuaded Jones to throw Smith into the fray, much to the delight of the home fans.
Youngs, however, showed there was still plenty of life in the old brigade as he stole the ball at a scrum and ran 40 metres for his second try. Centre Mark Atkinson came on for his debut and immediately helped set up May for his second try.
Tonga replacement Viliami Fine was red carded 12 minutes from time for a wild shoulder into the face of a prone Smith and moments later George claimed another trademark maul try.
Smith then scored after a great run by man of the match Henry Slade before setting up Blamire for the 10th as Tonga’s defence disintegrated, before debutant replacement scrum-half Mitchell had the final word.
England return to Twickenham to face Australia next Saturday, before completing their autumn programme against world champions South Africa on Nov. 20 and though those sides will provide stiffer opposition, it was a hugely encouraging outing for Jones’s side.
“We are trying to reinvigorate ourselves, and I think we saw that today,” Slade said.
“It’s about building relationships and friendships on and off the field. “We have a good mixture of boys who have been here for a while, some youth, some experience, some energy and I think we have a good balance at the moment.”