- Published
Free-scoring back row Henry Pollock will make only his second start for England after being named at number eight in a much-changed side for Saturday's Nations Championship meeting with Japan.
asserted
Pollock → publish → Japan
Despite mainly being restricted to the bench, Pollock has scored eight tries in 14 Tests, including a double as a stand-in wing against Australia on Sunday.
asserted
Pollock → restrict → Sunday
After man-of-the-match performances in Northampton's run to the Prem title, the 21-year-old will get a chance to press his claim to a Test starting spot.
uncertain
old → get → spot
Elsewhere in-form Will Joseph, whose only previous England cap came under now-Japan coach Eddie Jones in 2022, is given his chance in the absence of injured wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
asserted
cap → come → Waboso
Max Ojomoh comes in at inside centre in a remarkable return to favour.
The 26-year-old has not played for England since starring match in the win over Argentina a year ago and was not initially part of England's 36-strong squad for this month's matches.
asserted
old → come → matches
With his contract at Bath up for renewal at the end of the season, he has been linked with a move to the Top 14 in the French press.
However, a stellar performance in England A's win over an Argentina XV last Friday has earned Ojomoh promotion into the senior starting line-up ahead of Fraser Dingwall, with first choice Seb Atkinson ruled out with a hip injury.
asserted
Atkinson → link → injury
George Ford is named at fly-half with Fin Smith, who recovered from a calf injury to play 80 minutes against the Wallabies, rotated out of the matchday squad and Marcus Smith, who has impressed in recent weeks with Harlequins, on the bench.
asserted
who → name → bench
Cadan Murley comes into the back three with Tommy Freeman left out, while there is an all-new starting front row of Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
asserted
Freeman → come → Genge
Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland is poised to make his debut off the bench, with Greg Fisilau, Arthur Clark and Emmanuel Iyogun, who all have one cap, alongside him in an inexperienced set of replacements.
asserted
who → poise → replacements
Enforced absences have prevented England from building on last weekend's win with a similar selection.
asserted
absences → prevent → selection
Only centre Henry Slade, scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet and captain Maro Itoje have retained their starting spot in the same position.
asserted
Slade → retain → position
The rejig, however, gives others a chance to make their case a year out from the Rugby World Cup in Australia.
asserted
rejig → give → Australia
While Pollock has made regular try-scoring second-half cameos in his England career so far, the 21-year-old's only previous start was in February's dismal 42-21 home defeat by Ireland.
asserted
start → make → Ireland
England were routed at the breakdown that day and Pollock's challenge, albeit against weaker opposition, will be to prove his effectiveness in close quarters, as well as in open spaces.
asserted
challenge → rout → spaces
Pollock had Ben Earl and Tom Curry alongside him against Ireland, and Borthwick has brought more ballast into the back-row blend on this occasion with Alex Coles moved to blind-side flanker in place of the injured Ollie Chessum.
asserted
Coles → have → Chessum
Like Pollock, Ojomoh knows that head coach Steve Borthwick will be focused on small details, as much as showreel highlights.
asserted
Borthwick → know → highlights
The Bath star's silky playmaking skills and running threat have never been in doubt, but England have wanted more from the Bath star in defence and his work off the ball.
asserted
England → want → ball
However, if, as expected, England secure the majority of possession, Ojomoh's ability to pick passes in the face of a defence could spring his backline.
uncertain
ability → expect → backline
Joseph, whose older brother Jonathan won 54 caps for England between 2012 and 2020, has been one of the stars of Gloucester's resurgence this season, alternating between wing and midfield.
asserted
brother → win → wing
England have won all six previous Tests against Japan, most recently running out 52-17 winners in Tokyo in June 2024.
asserted
England → win → June
The Aporia
