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Joe Marler has joked that he took inspiration from Brighton\u2019s win over Manchester United when providing a bizarre headed assist in England\u2019s victory against Japan.<\/p>\n
Captain Courtney Lawes was the beneficiary of a fortuitous bounce off Marler\u2019s bonce, collecting the loose ball and grounding beneath the posts for a crucial second try.<\/p>\n
England subsequently scored twice more late on to secure a 34-12 bonus point victory.<\/p>\n
Although the ball travelled forward, as it came directly off Marler\u2019s head it was not knocked on, and with Lawes in an onside position when contact was made, the try was upheld by the television match official.<\/p>\n
England have been playing football regularly in training at this tournament, including at their captain\u2019s run on Saturday, and Marler quipped afterwards that the hard work had paid off.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s just what I\u2019ve been practising for, these moments,\u201d Marler said. \u201cI practised it today with Dan Cole and Jamie George – in activation, we were practising our headers. <\/p>\n
\u201cI took huge inspiration from Robert De Zerbi\u2019s mighty Seagulls, doing a demolition job on United, which is my son\u2019s team. Four Premier League games in a row. Only three teams in Premier League history have beaten Man United four Premier League games in a row: Brighton, Man City and Liverpool.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut [Brighton have] won nothing yet guys – which brings us right back to us, because we\u2019ve won nothing yet. We\u2019ve had two good victories, one in different circumstances and we\u2019re on to the next.\u201d<\/p>\n
England are top of Pool D after their opening two fixtures, and next face Chile in Lille on Saturday before concluding their pool efforts against Samoa a fortnight later in the city.<\/p>\n