England team: Steve Borthwick limits changes as rising star selected to face ‘dangerous’ Japan
Tom Curry starts for England while Asher Opoku-Fordjour is on the bench against Japan.
England head coach Steve Borthwick has made two changes to his starting line-up that will take on Japan in the Autumn Nations Series at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
On the back of their latest defeat, which came at the hands of South Africa last weekend, the English will be desperate to get a victory on the board at home this weekend.
The two tweaks sees George Furbank and Tom Curry come into the XV in place of Freddie Steward and Chandler Cunningham-South at full-back and flank respectively.
George Ford misses out
Jamie George will once again lead England and is supported by vice-captains Maro Itoje, Ben Earl and Ellis Genge with George Ford missing out on the matchday squad.
In the front-row, George starts at hooker with Genge at loosehead prop and Will Stuart at tighthead prop while second-row Itoje is again paired with George Martin.
The English back-row selected by Borthwick sees Curry named on the blindside, Sam Underhill at openside and Earl once again running out in the number eight shirt.
The half-back combination is retained from that Springboks defeat at Twickenham as Jack van Poortvliet (scrum-half) partners an in-form Marcus Smith (fly-half).
Meanwhile, Henry Slade continues alongside Ollie Lawrence at centre while Tommy Freeman is on the right wing, Ollie Sleightholme on the left and Furbank at 15.
20-year-old prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour is set to earn his first England senior cap from the bench during Sunday’s match. He joins hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, prop Fin Baxter, lock Nick Isiekwe, flanker Cunningham-South, scrum-half Harry Randall, fly-half Fin Smith and wing Tom Roebuck amongst the home side’s replacements.
“We anticipate a tough challenge from a team that thrives on playing fast and with tempo,” said Borthwick.
“Japan are a dangerous team so it’s important that we execute our game plan and maintain focus throughout the full 80 minutes.”
England team to face Japan
England: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Tom Curry, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George (c), 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Tom Roebuck
Date: Sunday, November 24
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Kick-off: 16:10 GMT
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)
Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
