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England rugby fans have fumed they were "playing football" during their Rugby World Cup clash with Japan on Sunday evening.
Steve Borthwick's side did enough to win at the Allianz Riviera, but it wasn't a vintage display by England – and they were even booed by their own fans for over-kicking the ball.
While kicking for territory is a key tactic in rugby, fans were left fuming with England's persistence to kick against the Japanese, with some even complaining it was like watching a football match.
READ MORE: Joe Marler makes 'greatest assist ever' heading ball for England World Cup try
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"Why are England kicking it all the time, this ain’t football chaps," one fan fumed. While a second shared: "England rugby team must have been watching the football team…They are kicking so much I cannot understand what the f*** they think they will achieve!"
"This England team is so frustrating stop kicking the ball it’s not football," a third said. And another added: "Are England playing a football match tonight, my timeline is just full of kicking this and heading that!"
What did you think of England's performance against Japan? Let us know in the comments section
However, Borthwick was happy with his side: "It was a good game against a really good Japan team. We knew we would get the rewards if we kept doing the right things. I'm delighted for the players and the supporters out there. We want to make sure they enjoy it and have some good nights.
"The players have got to find a way to get the result. You saw a Japan team who kicked the ball 37 times, which tells you a lot about the conditions tonight. Whatever the plan was from the start, the players need to adapt and get the result.
"We will have a good debrief of this game. The first thing is for the players to enjoy this win. and then we have six days until we play Chile."
- Rugby union
- Rugby World Cup
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