Leaked England XV suggests Eddie Jones is set to 'ring the changes'

Thursday, 10 November 2022 at 07:30

byRugby Rucker

England head coach Eddie Jones will name his line-up on Thursday morning with the Mail Online suggesting he could make up to four changes.

The Aussies' side lost 30-29 to Argentina last Sunday, a sixth defeat in ten matches this year.

Sam Simmonds and uncapped Northampton lock David Ribbans are contenders for promotion to the pack with Billy Vunipola and Alex Coles set to drop out.

Jack van Poortvliet and Jonny May may also come into the backline, while hooker Jamie George is expected to be among the replacements.

When is England vs Japan?

The fixture between England and Japan takes place at Twickenham Stadium in London on Saturday 12 November and kicks off at 3:15pm (GMT).

How can I watch England vs Japan?

The match will not be available on terrestrial television and like the rest of the autumn internationals will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video.

Expected England XV

NGLAND (probable): Steward; Nowell, Tuilagi, Farrell (capt), May; Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Sinckler; D Ribbans, J Hill; Itoje, Simmonds, Curry.

Owen Farrell, Captain of England kicks the penalty during the Autumn Nations Series Match between England and Argentina at Twickenham Stadium on 6 November 2022. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK

Kick-off: Saturday, 3.15pm.

TV: LIVE on Amazon Prime.

Warren Gatland reveals the XV he’d pick as England boss

Harlequins playmaker Marcus Smith is the future, but captain Owen Farrell is he solution right now, according to Warren Gatland.

Warren Gatland's England XV to face Japan

Back-three:

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
14. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath RFC)

Freddie Steward of England goes over for a try during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Australia at Twickenham on 13 November 2021. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

In May 2022 Steward was named as the Rugby Players' Association
Player's Young player of the year and England men's player of the season
In April 2017, Nowell was called up for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, becoming the first player to be selected from Exeter Chiefs by the Lions
Cokanasiga was born in Fiji but before his third birthday, moved to England with his father, Ilaitia, who was in the British Army

Centres:

13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)

Manu Tuilagi of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

He was named Manusamoa, after the name of the Samoan national team, Manu Samoa, because his brother Freddie was selected for Samoa at the World Cup in 1991, the year Manu was born

Halfbacks:

10. Owen Farrell (Saracens)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

Gatland wrote in his column for The Telegraph: "If the plan was to make a half dozen changes for Japan, then I would stick to the plan and do that by giving Farrell a start at 10, before then picking my best side for New Zealand and South Africa.

Owen Farrell, Captain of England kicks the penalty during the Autumn Nations Series Match between England and Argentina at Twickenham Stadium on 6 November 2022. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK

" If you go with the same selection as Argentina, then that team pretty much needs to play the whole autumn together to build for the two big games.

"With Owen at No 10, you look at that as a possibility if you want to play a different game. The hard thing for England is you are trying to find a place for Marcus and he is a raw talent, unbelievably skilful.

"ertain games you go back to Owen at No 10 and you have that solidity, experience, and he has done it brilliantly for Saracens controlling the game for a number of years and had great success at fly-half."

Front-row:

1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)

DID YOU KNOW?

Genge has developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia)
Sinckler has represented England at under-16, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels, and has been a crucial member of the senior team since 2016

Second-row:

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
5. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks)

Final whistle celebrations for Maro Itoje of England Rugby after the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

As a schoolboy, Itoje played several sports including basketball, football, rugby and athletics, representing England at U17 level in shot put
Hill is the nephew of former Rugby league international Paul Loughlin.

Back-row:

6. Jack Willis (Free Agent)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)

Gatland wrote: "Upfront, I'm not sure that Maro had the impact at six in terms of ball-carrying so it's whether you put him back into the second, even though I felt Alex Coles had a great debut.

"A back row featuring Tom Curry, Jack Willis and Sam Simmonds. That could give you some real mobility, some carrying power and footwork."

Billy Vunipola of England during the Autumn Nations Series Match between England and Argentina at Twickenham Stadium on 6 November 2022. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

Curry is the twin brother of Sale Sharks flanker Ben Curry, son of Bishop Heber High School Head Teacher David Curry and nephew of former England hooker John Olver
Vunipola was born in Sydney in Australia to Tongan parents, but moved to Wales with his family as a young child after his father Feʻao Vunipola signed for Pontypool RFC in 1998

5 retired rugby players who still have it, including Mike Tindall

England team to play Japan: 2022 Autumn Nations Series