England ring the changes for Japan

ENGLAND are primed to face a Japan side determined to prove it belongs at the global game’s top table when the nations clash at Twickenham today. It is only the second time the rivals have met in a Test match, 31 years after they collided at the 1987 World Cup when the Brave Blossoms were crushed 60-7 in Sydney. The most recent instalment of the tournament was far more successful, however, as an Eddie Jones-led Japan sent South Africa crashing to the greatest upset in rugby history in 2015. England assistant coach Neal Hatley believes the visitors enter their penultimate autumn Test intent on demonstrating they are a growing force. ‘They’ll be ready to play unbelievably hard to prove a point – that they’re ready to compete in tier one,’ Hatley said. ‘We’re expecting lots of endeavour and effort from them. Eddie said in the week they’ve improved massively and believes that since the World Cup they have got better again.’ Jones has used the match as a dress rehearsal for Japan 2019 when a four-day turnaround between the group games against Tonga and the United States must be accommodated, before the heavyweight collisions with Argentina and France begin. Eleven changes have been made to the team which fell to a 16-15 defeat by New Zealand. It is hoped the reserve line-up will overrun Japan, enabling Owen Farrell, Dylan Hartley and Ben Youngs to take a back seat. ENGLAND: E Daly; J Cokanasiga, J Nowell, A Lozowski, C Ashton; G Ford (c), D Care; A Hepburn, J George, H Williams; C Ewels, M Itoje; C Lawes, M Wilson, Z Mercer Kick-off: 3pm at Twickenham. TV/Radio: LIVE on Sky Sports Main Event from 2.30pm and BBC Radio 5live. Referee: Paul Williams (NZ).