Despite shocking the rugby world in back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2015 and 2019 with wins over South Africa, Ireland and Scotland - Japan have struggled since.

The Brave Blossoms failed to get out of the pool stages at last autumn's World Cup in France and struggled ahead of the competition, finishing with only one win at the Pacific Nations Cup.

Eddie Jones is back and will aim to get Japan competing at the top table once again.

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The big team news is that Marcus Smith starts at fly-half and Chandler Cunningham-South makes his first Test start.

Smith starts over namesake Fin, with Northampton's Premiership title winner among the replacements.

Sale wing Tom Roebuck is set for a debut from the bench.

Eddie Jones has named an inexperienced Japan side, which includes four uncapped players in his starting XV.

Japan: Yazaki; Naikabula, Riley, Osada, Nezuka; Lee, Saito; Mohara, Harada, Takeuchi, Waqa, Dearns, Leitch (capt), Costley, Makisi.

Replacements: Sakate, Miura, Tamefusa, Saumaki, Yamamoto, Fujiwara, Matsuda, Tua.

England: Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman; M Smith, Mitchell; Rodd, George (capt), Cole, Itoje, Martin, Cunningham-South, Underhill, Earl.

Replacements:Dan, Marler, Stuart, Ewels, T Curry, Randall, F Smith, Roebuck.

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Chris Ashton
Former England wing on Rugby Union Weekly

What a start a win [against England] would be for Eddie, the master against the apprentice after everything that has happened this past year.

There probably couldn't be a better game for him.

Is there a better coach to come into a week like this and build the lads up?

If they lose he could tear them to shreds next week, but just for this week to build them up, Eddie is perfect.

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Head coach Steve Borthwick is "doing a great job" in charge of England, says new Japan boss Eddie Jones.

Jones, 64, was sacked by England nine months before last autumn's Rugby World Cup and replaced by Borthwick, who worked under the Australian during his first stint in charge of Japan and at England.

Borthwick, 44, had a disappointing first Six Nations in charge, but has since guided England to a third-placed finish at the World Cup and had an impressive victory over Ireland in this year's Six Nations.

"England is a high-pressured job, you get more scrutiny than any other job in the world," Jones said.

"For a young guy he [Borthwick] is doing a great job."

Read more here.

• England have never lost to Japan and beat them 34-12 at the World Cup in their last meeting.
• Fly-half Marcus Smith scored twice in a 52-13 win at Twickenham in 2022.
• Japan led Eddie Jones' England at half-time at Twickenham in 2018 before being defeated 35-15.

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Wake up!

Get a coffee into you as international rugby is back.

England are back in action and face Japan in Tokyo with kick-off at 06:50 BST.

Steve Borthwick has named an exciting side. Oh and Eddie Jones is back in charge of Japan, remember him?

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