ENGLAND will play Japan in their second pool-stage match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup TONIGHT!
England were victorious in their opener against Argentina despite being a man down.
Steve Borthwick will be without Tom Curry after he was shown a controversial red card following a head-on-head collision with Juan Cruz Mallia last weekend.
- Kick off time: 8pm BST
- TV channel: ITV1
- FREE live stream: ITVX
- England XV: Steward; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Ford, Mitchell; Marler, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Chessum, Lawes (capt), Earl, Ludlam
- Japan XV: Masirewa; Matsushima, Osada, Nakamura, Naikabula; Matsuda, Nagare; Inagaki, Horie, Gu, Cornelsen, Fakatava, Leitch, Labuschagne, Himeno (capt)
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- By Kieran Davies
Welcome to the George Ford show
In their opening World Cup fixture, it was very much the George Ford show as he kicked all of their 27 points.
It resulted in a 27-10 victory for Steve Borthwick's side.
His 100% conversion rate will be much needed in this tournament and is currently keeping Owen Farrell out of the team.
- By Kieran Davies
Turning possession into points is key
In many of their games over the last twelve months, there have been plenty of points where England have had plenty of possession in their opponent’s final third.
All too often, they have come away without putting any points on the board.
They have struggled to score tries and will need to remedy this is they hope to go any distance in the competition.
- By Kieran Davies
Japan lead the way in pool
After their bonus point win in their opening game against Chile, Japan are currently above England in Pool D.
Seeing England’s poor form, Japan will feel this is their best opportunity of causing an upset.
Steve Borthwick’s side expect to get out of the group with no issues, victory today would put them one step closer.
Credit: Getty
- By Kieran Davies
Red and whites with point to prove
England, despite victory against Argentina, still have a big point to prove to their critics.
It was not just their warm-up schedule for the World Cup that was disappointing, they also had a dreadful Six Nations campaign also.
They failed to score a try in their opening game and fans will be keen to see some expansive attacking play tonight.
- By Kieran Davies
Japan replacements:
16. Atsushi Sakate, 17. Craig Millar, 18. Asaeli Ai Valu, 19. Warner Dearns, 20. Kanji Shimokawa, 21. Naoto Saito, 22. Dylan Riley, 23. Lomano Lemeki
- By Kieran Davies
Japan starting XV:
15. Semisi Masirewa, 14. Kotaro Matsushima, 13. Tomoki Osada, 12. Ryoto Nakamura, 11. Jone Naikabula, 10. Rikiya Matsuda, 9. Yutaka Nagare, 8. Kazuki Himeno (c), 7. Pieter Labuschagne, 6. Michael Leitch, 5. Amato Fakatava, 4. Jack Cornelsen, 3. Jiwon Gu, 2. Shota Horie, 1. Keita Inagaki
- By Kieran Davies
England replacements:
16. Theo Dan, 17. Ellis Genge, 18. Will Stuart, 19. George Martin, 20. Billy Vunipola, 21. Ben Youngs, 22. Marcus Smith, 23. Ollie Lawrence
- By Kieran Davies
England starting XV:
15. Freddie Steward, 14. Jonny May, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Elliot Daly, 10. George Ford, 9. Alex Mitchell, 8. Lewis Ludlam, 7. Ben Earl, 6. Courtney Lawes (c), 5. Ollie Chessum, 4. Maro Itoje, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 2. Jamie George, 1. Joe Marler
- By Kieran Davies
Welcome to England vs Japan
England go into their second pool game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup as they take on Japan at the Allianz Riviera Stadium in Nice.
Billy Vunipola returns from his suspension for tonight’s game, although he will start on the bench as the coach has opted to play Lewis Ludlam at number eight.
Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler come in to replace Ellis Genge and Dan Cole in the prop positions alongside Jamie George who plays as hooker.
George Ford continues at number 10 despite Owen Farrell now being eligible to play after his suspension in the warm-up tests.
It is no surprise that Ford plays as he single handedly took England to victory in their opening game against Argentina.
For Japan, Shota Horie replaces Atsushi Sakate at hooker and Peter Labuschagne comes into the second row instead of Kanji Shimokawa.
Despite a minor injury concern against Chile, Kazuki Himeno is fit to start and will keep the captain’s armband for the game, resulting in Jack Cornelsen slotting into the lock role.
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