Henry Pollock will make just his second start for England on Saturday against Japan in the Nations Championship. He has been named at number eight in a significantly changed England team.
Pollock has scored eight tries in 14 Test matches. Last Sunday, as a stand-in wing against Australia, he scored a double try. His only previous start was in February in a home defeat by Ireland 42:21.
Will Joseph gets a chance in the absence of injured wing Immanuel Feyi-Wabosa. Joseph's only previous appearance for England was under current Japan coach Eddie Jones in 2022. Joseph is now 24 years old and has lost his hearing in his left ear due to an autoimmune disease. His older brother Jonathan won 54 caps for England between 2012 and 2020.
Max Ojomoh comes in at inside centre. Ojomoh, who is 26, has not played for England since last year's appearance in a win over Argentina. He was initially not part of the 36-man England squad for this month's matches. His contract at Bath expires at the end of the season, and French media are linking him with a move to the Top 14. His performance in England A's win over Argentina XV last Friday earned him promotion to the senior starting XV. He was promoted ahead of Fraser Dingwall, while first-choice Seb Atkinson is out of action with a hip injury.
George Ford has been named at fly-half. Fin Smith, who recovered from an ankle injury and played 80 minutes against the Australians, has been rotated out of the team for the match. Marcus Smith is on the bench. Cadan Murley comes into the back three, while Tommy Freeman is omitted. The starting front row consists of Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Asher Opoku-Fordjour. Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland is set to make his debut from the bench. Greg Fisilau, Arthur Clark and Emmanuel Iyogun all have one cap each.
The England – Japan match in the Nations Championship is played on Saturday 14 November at 16:40 GMT at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham. Live coverage is on BBC Radio 5 Live, the BBC Sport website and app. Only centre Henry Slade, scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet and captain Maro Itoje have retained their starting places in the same positions. Alex Coles has been moved to blindside flanker in place of the injured Ollie Chessum. England have won all six previous Test matches against Japan, with the last victory coming 52:17 in Tokyo in June 2024. Joseph was a teenage tourer on England's tour of Australia under Jones in 2022. He made his international debut coming on in the final minute of the second Test win, replacing Guy Porter. England's Mitchell may miss the Six Nations after knee ligament surgery, while Lawes is recovering following a hospital stay due to an infection.
