England makes 10 changes for Japan clash
- England has made 10 changes to their starting lineup for the match against Japan.
- Henry Pollock, Max Ojomoh, and Will Joseph have been named as starters.
- George Ford returns to the starting XV at fly-half.
- Archie McParland is in line to make his debut from the bench.
- Japan has named an unchanged forward pack from their previous defeat to Wales.
England has overhauled its squad by making 10 changes to the starting lineup for the upcoming Nations Championship fixture against Japan, as reported by Sky Sports and The Independent on Thursday, 12 November. This significant team restructuring includes the selection of George Ford at fly-half.
The starting XV for the match features Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Alex Coles, Ben Earl, Henry Pollock, Jack van Poortvliet, George Ford, Cadan Murley, Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade, Will Joseph, and Freddie Steward. ESPN and The Independent confirmed these changes as part of a major lineup adjustment.
Pollock, Ojomoh and Joseph earn starting spots
Henry Pollock, Max Ojomoh, and Will Joseph have been named as starters for the Japan match. The Times reported on 11 November that these three players were set to start. Sky Sports added on 12 November that these inclusions were part of the 10 team changes. Talking Rugby Union also reported on 12 November that Pollock would start. Ruck.co.uk stated on 11 November that a leaked list included Pollock as a surprise starter.
He previously played as a substitute on the wing during England's 45-22 victory over Australia.
As background, the Nigeria national rugby union team has never qualified for a Rugby World Cup. Nigeria lost its first international match against Zimbabwe 111-12 on 1 August 1987. The team's greatest success was a 63-3 victory over Mauritius in the 2013 Africa Cup group 1C.
Backline adjustments and retained players
George Ford returns to the fly-half position for the match against Japan. He is joined in the backline by Freddie Steward at full-back and Cadan Murley on the left wing.
Jack van Poortvliet and Henry Slade are the only starters in the backline retained from the win against Australia. Marcus Smith is included on the bench and is one of two backs providing cover for the fly-half position.
Fin Smith completed full training this week but has been excluded from the matchday 23 squad entirely.
Forwards and bench updates
Alex Coles shifts to the blindside flank for the forward pack. Asher Opoku-Fordjour is selected to start at the tighthead position.
Emmanuel Iyogun, Arthur Clark, and Greg Fisilau are also named on the bench and are set to win their second caps.
Injury concerns and squad availability
England faces a string of injuries affecting selection, with Ollie Chessum out with a shoulder injury. Seb Atkinson remains sidelined with a hip injury while George Furbank is unavailable due to a groin issue.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been ruled out for the remainder of the Nations Championship following his ankle injury.
Steve Borthwick on team intensity and debutants
On Tuesday, 10 November, Planet Rugby reported that coach Steve Borthwick described the team selection as involving elected changes. Borthwick was advised to prioritize current team performance over future World Cup considerations for this match, according to The Guardian on 12 November.
Borthwick stated that Japan is a very well-coached side that will challenge in different ways. He added that the team will need to bring intensity throughout the game.
Regarding Archie McParland, Borthwick said he is delighted for the player after his struggles with injury. Borthwick noted he is looking forward to the match on Saturday.
Japan team news and debutant Riku Tokito
Japan has kept its forward pack unchanged from the side that lost to Wales. Riku Tokito will make his debut on the wing, replacing the injured Inoke Burua.
Tokito is a former Japan sevens international who has not played a professional 15-a-side game before. The starting XV features Yota Kamimori, Mamoru Harada, Shuhei Takeuchi, Harry Hockings, and co-captains Warner Dearns and Naoto Saito.
Ben Gunter, Kanji Shimokawa, Jack Cornelsen, Riku Kitahara, Samisoni Tua, Dylan Riley, Kippei Ishida, and Kazuma Ueda complete the lineup.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will Joseph and Max Ojomoh given chance to shine in radical England revamp for Japan (independent.co.uk)
- Nigeria national rugby union team (Wikipedia — background) (en.wikipedia.org)
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