Category: Rugby

• Just three retained in same positions from Australia game

• ‘We want the very best of every one of these guys,’ says Itoje

England’s World Cup hopefuls have been warned not to go off script when auditioning for a place on the plane next year after Steve Borthwick rang the changes to his side to face Japan on Saturday, handing starts to rookies Will Joseph and Max Ojomoh as well as Henry Pollock.

Borthwick has made 10 personnel and two positional changes to his team to play Eddie Jones’s side with a glut of injuries, a handful of players in need of a rest and the head coach’s determination to give those such as Joseph and Ojomoh, who line up on the right wing and inside centre respectively, the chance to shine. Pollock makes his second start, coming in at No 8, while the Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland is in line for a debut from the bench.

Japan head coach was criticised for discarding players harshly during his Red Rose tenure but that tough love has paid off for some

To listen to Eddie Jones chewing the fat on assorted podcasts this week is to admire the enduring thickness of his coaching skin. The old crocodile smile is still intact too, along with his sense of humour after an interaction in a lift with a fan after his Japan side’s 28-21 weekend defeat in Cardiff. As Jones later confided: “This Welsh bloke came up to me and said: ‘You almost look human with your glasses on.’”

Next up is a reunion with a few former friends – and foes – at Twickenham. While it is now almost four years since Jones was sacked by the Rugby Football Union, there remain mixed emotions on both sides. Those relieved to see him go in late 2022 will certainly not be too brokenhearted if there is a similar outcome to the last time a Jones-coached Japan came to Allianz Stadium two years ago and lost 59-14.

• England require back-line reshuffle after several injuries

• Kevin Sinfield says collaboration with clubs will be key

England need to find a talented understudy for their injured star wing Manny Feyi-Waboso, and are poised to invite Gloucester’s Will Joseph to audition for a ­leading role against Japan on Saturday. The latter was a travelling reserve for last ­weekend’s Australia game and appears set for a Test recall four years after being given his debut by the current Brave ­Blossoms head coach, Eddie Jones.

The 24-year-old Joseph, whose brother Jonathan was a regular in England’s midfield for years, has been in outstanding club form and, as things stand, seems likely to ­feature in some capacity with injuries ­forcing Steve Borthwick to reconsider the backline blend that prospered against the Wallabies.

• Wing Feyi-Waboso sustained ankle injury on Sunday

• Tom Curry out for rest of November with hip injury

England have been rocked by multiple injury blows after Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso and Tom Curry were ruled out of the rest of their autumn campaign. George Furbank, Ollie Chessum and Seb Atkinson are also expected to miss the clash with Japan on Saturday, with the two-try hero Henry Pollock in line for a rare start in a much-changed XV.

Feyi-Waboso sustained an ankle injury in the first half of the 45-22 victory against Australia on Sunday and will miss games against Japan, New Zealand and England’s match on finals weekend. Tom Curry, who sustained a hip injury while ­training last week, is also out for the rest of November.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman and George Furbank can make an impact at the World Cup next year, providing they can stay fit

Rugby, at its heart, is a simple game. Win the collisions and you’ll more than likely win the match. Rule the skies, own the floor and the chances are you’ll end up on the right side of the ledger. Put square pegs in square holes and you can achieve the sort of attacking fluidity required for a record score against Australia. The complicated bit, once you stop trying to put them in round holes, is keeping those square pegs fit.

England’s emphatic win against the Wallabies on Sunday was the first time in two years Borthwick has been able to field a back three of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman and George Furbank. It was also the first time they have lined up with 11, 14 and 15 on their respective backs.