England name Pollock and Ojomoh in starting XV for Japan clash

Ten changes to the starting XV

Head coach Steve Borthwick has announced ten changes to the starting lineup for the Nations Championship Test. Henry Pollock starts at number eight after scoring two tries off the bench in the previous match. Max Ojomoh enters the side at inside centre while Will Joseph takes the right wing spot. The front row sees three new starters including Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Asher Opoku-Fordjour. George Martin plays in the second row alongside captain Maro Itoje who retains his position.

Injuries force squad reshuffle

Several players are unavailable due to injury which forces significant alterations to the matchday twenty-three. Seb Atkinson is ruled out with a hip injury while Immanuel Feyi-Waboso suffers an ankle problem. George Furbank cannot play because of a groin injury and Ollie Chessum is also absent. Northampton Saints scrum-half Archie McParland is named in the replacements bench for his Test debut. The match takes place at Twickenham on Saturday at 4.40pm UK time during the Nations Championship.

Fly-half selection and bench details

George Ford is selected at fly-half ahead of Marcus Smith who remains on the substitutes bench. Cadan Murley forms part of a new back-three alongside Freddie Steward and Will Joseph. The replacements include Theo Dan, Emmanuel Iyogun, Joe Heyes, Arthur Clark, Ben Curry and Greg Fisilau. Borthwick stated that Japan are well-coached sides who will challenge England in different ways during the game.