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England will look to construct on their encouraging opening weekend win within the Rugby World Cup as they tackle Japan this night.
Having had a dismal warm-up interval to the event, Steve Borthwick’s aspect responded beautifully after shedding Tom Curry to an early purple card as George Ford’s kicking masterclass noticed them impressively eke out a 27-10 victory over Argentina in Marseille. Victory right here towards Japan would see England take an enormous step in the direction of securing a spot within the event’s knockout phases.
Japan, nonetheless, will present a stern take a look at having picked up a complete 42-12 victory towards Chile final weekend, with Jamie Joseph’s aspect seeking to pull off an upset to place them in a implausible place heading into the ultimate few rounds of the group phases.
Get all of the Rugby World Cup odds right here.
England vs Japan starling lineups
We’re quick approaching kick-off right here in Good. A ultimate reminder of how either side will line up:
England XV: 15-Freddie Steward, 14-Jonny Might, 13-Joe Marchant, 12-Manu Tuilagi, 11-Elliot Daly, 10-George Ford, 9-Alex Mitchell; 1-Joe Marler, 2-Jamie George, 3-Kyle Sinckler, 4-Maro Itoje, 5-Ollie Chessum, 6-Courtney Lawes (c), 7-Ben Earl, 8-Lewis Ludlam.
Japan XV: 15-Semisi Masirewa, 14-Kotaro Matsushima, 13-Tomoko Osada, 12-Ryoto Nakamura, 11-Jone Naikabula, 10-Rikiya Matsuda, 9-Yutaka Nagare; 1-Keita Inagaki, 2-Shota Horie, 3-Jiwon Gu, 4-Jack Cornelsen, 5-Amato Fakatava, 6-Michael Leitch, 7-Pieter Labuschagne, 8-Kazuki Himeno (c).
Ben Fleming17 September 2023 19:40
England vs Japan speaking factors
Defence coach Sinfield has in contrast Japan’s ways to the ‘Tika Taka’ soccer performed by Barcelona and England are on guard for dynamic opponents who like to maneuver the ball and search for area over contact.
They don’t seem to be the drive of 4 years in the past once they lit up their dwelling World Cup by way of enterprise and braveness, however they’ve the capability to upset the favourites in the event that they hit their stride.
Ben Fleming17 September 2023 19:35
England’s Steve Borthwick speaks to ITV
Right here’s what the England head coach needed to say forward of kick-off:
Ben Fleming17 September 2023 19:30
England vs Japan speaking factors
A fudge beckons when Borthwick is confronted with one of many hardest choice selections of his younger reign. George Ford was excellent towards Argentina and is within the type of his life, however with Owen Farrell finishing a four-match suspension towards Japan the long-term pals are battling for a similar quantity 10 jersey.
Borthwick will reveal his pondering within the ultimate group fixture towards Samoa on October 7 when he’s anticipated to reunite the duo in a playmaking axis that served England properly in 2019, however earlier than then Ford has one final alternative to indicate why he needs to be entrusted to pilot the group by himself.
Luke Baker17 September 2023 19:20
England vs Japan speaking factors
An enormous second looms for Kyle Sinckler, who will likely be making his first World Cup look since he was knocked out within the ultimate towards South Africa 4 years in the past.
Sinckler was within the type of his profession in Japan, his scrummaging, ball dealing with expertise and rampaging runs elevating him into the game’s elite band of tighthead props. The 30-year-old has didn’t rescale these heights since and now that he has recovered from a chest damage to take his place within the entrance row, he will likely be decided to invoke his 2019 type.
Luke Baker17 September 2023 19:10
England vs Japan
Hi there from a scorching and humid Stade de Good, the place England’s gamers have simply began their warm-ups, George Ford and Marcus Smith punting to 1 one other as they acquaint themselves with the pitch. This was the scene of one in every of English soccer’s nice disappointments, the exit to Iceland within the 2016 Euros – there have been just a few followers discussing precisely that non the tram over from town earlier.
Given Japan’s lack of type this 12 months, you’d say a defeat tonight for England would come as a little bit of a shock, although Jamie Joseph’s males nonetheless have oodles of high quality of their 23. Portugal lit up this floor final night time with their vibrant attacking sport – can Japan do likewise?
Harry Latham-Coyle on the Stade de Good17 September 2023 19:08
England vs Japan speaking factors
England delivered a defensive masterclass to nullify clueless Argentina however there was no masking their attacking deficiencies. Probably the most obvious second was the butchering of a transparent overlap that the identical gamers would end with ease for his or her golf equipment.
If England are to advance deeper into the World Cup they need to present they’ve the capability to attain tries as drop targets and penalties alone won’t be adequate to see off the large weapons.
Luke Baker17 September 2023 19:00
England vs Japan speaking factors
England have amassed extra playing cards this 12 months than any group ranked within the high 10, accumulating 5 yellows and 4 reds. It’s a debilitating statistic and whereas Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield are adamant that the group would not have a self-discipline downside, they know they cannot preserve taking part in with 14 males – and even much less.
The officiating of incidents involving head contact and their subsequent disciplinary hearings throughout this World Cup have been suffering from inconsistency, making avoiding harmful play extra vital than ever.
Luke Baker17 September 2023 18:50
Maro Itoje will take England victories on the World Cup ‘by any means mandatory’
Maro Itoje insists England will do no matter it takes to win if a substance over model method emerges as their blueprint for achievement on the World Cup.
George Ford kicked all 27 factors of their rout of Argentina final Saturday as England responded to the third-minute dismissal of Tom Curry for a harmful sort out by grinding the Pumas into submission.
It was a rousing riposte to a dismal warm-up marketing campaign however having excelled in defence and proven the smarts to form their gameplan in keeping with occasions, a potent assault stays elusive.
Free working Japan are the subsequent task on the Stade de Good on Sunday and whereas Itoje would favor to see England run riot, he’ll take a victory any means it comes.
When requested if it issues how the group win, Itoje mentioned: “For me, it’s by any means mandatory.”
Luke Baker17 September 2023 18:40
Lewis Ludlam replaces suspended Tom Curry as England make minimal adjustments for Japan
After a much-needed win over Argentina in Marseille, England head to Good stuffed with confidence.
The backline stays intact from the 27-10 win towards Los Pumas.
Luke Baker17 September 2023 18:25
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