Rugby
Tom Hamilton, Senior Writer 11h

England vs Japan: Tom Curry and George Furbank both to start

Rugby

England have made two changes for Japan on Sunday with Tom Curry and George Furbank both starting, while Asher Opoku-Fordjour is in line to make his debut from the bench.

England are seeking to end their November internationals on a winning note having fallen to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa this month.

Steve Borthwick has resisted the temptation to make mass changes for Sunday's match. Furbank returns at full-back with Freddie Steward dropping out of the matchday squad. Curry is in the back-row after recovering from a head injury sustained against Australia, and his return sees Chandler Cunningham-South on the bench.

 

Fin Smith replaces George Ford on England's bench while Cunningham-South steps in for Alex Dombrandt. Sale prop Opoku-Fordjour could make his England debut as replacement tight-head.

"Japan are a different tactical challenge to what we faced last week," Borthwick said. "We want to do some different things in the way we attack this week, hence the selection at fullback.

"It's a back row we played once before in the World Cup in 2023 and it's a back row that's got a lot of speed and athleticism.

"Japan want to play fast but we want to play fast."

England XV to face Japan:

Team: George Furbank, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme, Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet, Ellis Genge, Jamie George (captain), Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Nick Isiekwe, Chandler Cunningham-South, Harry Randall, Fin Smith, Tom Roebuck.

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