England make 10 changes for Japan clash as George Ford returns at fly-half

England have overhauled their team for Saturday’s Test against Japan at Twickenham with George Ford‘s return at fly-half one of 10 changes.

Ford makes his first international appearance since February in place of Fin Smith, who piloted England in Sunday’s 45-22 rout of Australia but is missing from the matchday 23 altogether.

Smith trained fully this week so his absence is selection based with New Zealand and finals weekend to come this autumn.

Marcus Smith provides playmaker cover from the bench.

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Ambitious selection

There are only five survivors from the side that crushed the Wallabies with head coach Steve Borthwick giving World Cup auditions to Max Ojomoh and Will Joseph, while Henry Pollock also features in an ambitious team selection.

Ojomoh comes in at inside centre for Seb Atkinson, who was ruled out against Japan because of a hip problem, and Joseph takes over from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who will miss out the rest of the autumn due to ankle damage.

Following a successful 40-minute cameo on the wing against Australia, Pollock makes his second England start after replacing Ollie Chessum in a reshaped back row.

Chessum picked up a shoulder injury in the Nations Championship opener so Pollock comes in at number eight, Ben Earl shifts to openside and Coles moves from lock to blindside flanker.

Excited

There is a whole new front row in Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Asher Opoku-Fordjour and George Martin replaces Coles in the second row.

George Furbank’s groin issue creates an opening for Freddie Steward at full-back while Cadan Murley is given a run on the left wing in place of Tommy Freeman, another Northampton Saint who has been stood down this weekend.

Borthwick continues with his preferred six-two split between forwards and backs on the bench where Archie McParland is poised to make his debut having been chosen as scrum-half cover.

“We’re all delighted for Archie,” Borthwick said.

“He’s had some bad luck with injury, so it’s especially pleasing to be able to name him in an England matchday 23 for the first time.

“He’s an outstanding young talent who has worked hard to get to this point, and we’re all excited to see how he goes.”

England team to face Japan

England team: Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers); Will Joseph (Gloucester), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Max Ojomoh (Bath), Cadan Murley (Harlequins); George Ford (Sale Sharks), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers); Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks), Maro Itoje (Saracens, captain), George Martin (Saracens), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Ben Earl (Saracens), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints).

Replacements: Theo Dan (Saracens), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Arthur Clark (Gloucester), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), Archie McParland (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins).

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