England defeat USA at Rugby World Cup
England sealed successive victories at the 2019 Rugby World Cup with a bonus-point 45-7 win over USA in Kobe.
The result sees them top Pool C, having earlier defeated Tonga in their first fixture of the tournament.
England next face Argentina on Saturday 5 October (KO 09:00 BST) and finally France – Saturday 12 October (KO 09:15 BST).
First-half tries from George Ford, Billy Vunipola and Luke Cowan-Dickie gave England a 19-0 lead.
While second-half scores via Joe Cokanasiga (2), Ruaridh McConnochie and Lewis Ludlam sealed the result with Bryce Campbell crossing for a late consoltation.
The fixture marked a sixth meeting between the two countries, with England having won the previous five.
And they made it a sixth victory with a comprehensive win.
Early dominance
For England, it was also a fourth time this year that they have surpassed 40 points. The last time they did so more times in a calendar year was in 2003 (7), including two instances in their triumphant 2003 Rugby World Cup campaign. An omen? It is too early to say, but England looked in fine form on Thursday.
Prop Dan Cole joined Jonny Wilkinson on 91 caps as the third-highest capped men’s England player, with Ben Youngs coming on as a finisher to also achieve the feat. England’s scrum was a particular early area of dominance.
England had a first try, Ford sniping through midfield after Vunipola had got the side on the front foot with a typically robust carry through the USA defence.
After resilient USA defence the pressure eventually told and England's forwards started to dominate.
The second try eventually came. A penalty was kicked to USA's 5m line and from the resulting lineout maul, England's forwards bundled over with Vunipola dotting down.
They followed suit before half time, another Ford penalty was kicked to the corner and England's forwards drove from 22m with Cowan-Dickie the man to cross.
Defence
Eddie Jones had hailed his side’s defence against Tonga, and it was equally as tight on Thursday with a late USA try the only blot on an otherwise solid display,
And it was key feature of Thursday's performance with defence giving England a solid foundation in which to build from in Kobe.
The bonus-point was sealed in the early stages of the second-half through Cokanasiga who was the grateful recipient of some superb feet and hands from Jonathan Joseph who jinked his way through the USA defence.
McConnochie rolled over in the corner for a fifth England try after the three-quarters had recycled the ball wide and Ludlam had a sixth taking advantage of an overlap.
John Quill was red carded with 10 minutes left for an illegal tackle on Owen Farrell and England took advantage of the space with Cokanasiga powering through for a seventh try.
USA had the final say of the game though, Campbell crossing in stoppage time to get his side on the board.
Who scored?
England: Tries – Ford, Vunipola, Cowan-Dickie, McConnochie, Ludlam, Cokanasiga 2 Cons – Ford 5
USA: Tries – Campbell Cons – MacGinty
Teams
England: Elliot Daly; Ruaridh McConnochie, Jonathan Joseph, Piers Francis, Joe Cokanasiga; George Ford, Willi Heinz; Joe Marler, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, George Kruis, Tom Curry, Lewis Ludlam, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Jack Singleton, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, Mark Wilson, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, Anthony Watson.
USA: 15. Will Hooley, 14. Blaine Scully (capt,), 13. Marcel Brache, 12. Paul Lasike, 11. Martin Iosefo, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Shaun Davies, 1. David Ainuu, 2. Joe Taufete'e, 3. Titi Lamositele, 4. Ben Landry, 5. Nick Civetta, 6. Tony Lamborn, 7. John Quill, 8. Cam Dolan.
Replacements: 16. Dylan Fawsitt, 17. Olive Kilifi, 18. Paul Mullen, 19. Greg Peterson, 20. Hanco Germishuys, 21. Ruben de Haas, 22. Bryce Campbell, 23. Mike Te’o
