Get Involvedpublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2024
16:09 GMT 24 November 2024
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'The Japanese DNA'published at 16:06 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2024
16:06 GMT 24 November 2024
England v Japan (16:10 GMT)
Speaking to TNT Sports, Japan assistant coach Neal Hatley said: "I think we have progressed with the way we are trying to play. We are trying to find a definitive style that suits Japanese players and suits their DNA. We are not the finished article but we have retained 19 or 20 players so we are building a lot of depth.
"Eddie approaches every Test week pretty similarly. He spent seven years here with the best win percentage of any coach. England are a really good side and are well-coached but we have focussed on us this week and how we want to play.
"If you don't get the first 40 or 50 minutes right, you end up chasing the game. England have picked three sevens and have a clear plan to slow us down so it's a great challenge for us."
'Some players have not delivered consistently'published at 16:03 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2024
16:03 GMT 24 November 2024
England v Japan (16:10 GMT)
Paul Grayson Former England fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
My England rugby assessment baraometer has moved, my expectations are not as high as we often say they should be.
That level of expectation around England means that you are constantly coming down on the negative side. The reality is there are so many good players who have not delivered consistently for those last two coaches.
One to watch: Naoto Saitopublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2024
16:02 GMT 24 November 2024
England v Japan (16:10 GMT)
Japan will be led by captain Naoto Saito, who is the one to watch for the visitors.
The scrum-half is the only player in Japan's starting XV to play club rugby outside of his native country, as backup to France captain Antoine Dupont at Toulouse.
He likes to move the ball quickly and will look to expose any frailties around the ruck.
'We want a complete performance'published at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2024
16:00 GMT 24 November 2024
England v Japan (16:10 GMT)
Speaking to TNT Sports, England head coach Steve Borthwick said: "Today we want to put in an 80-minute performance for our supporters. There have been big positives over the last few weeks and the identity is building but ultimately we haven't finished games off and today we want the complete performance.
"You have to consider all the things you are doing well. The team are getting into good positions to win games but then it's about finishing them off. We are trying to play with ball speed but we want to couple that with a ruthless edge.
"You see today we have another new cap into the fold [Asher Opoku-Fordjour], a couple of changes in the team and a backrow with speed and athleticism.
"I'm sure Japan will be a really well-coached team. Each time we have played Japan in the last few years, we have seen a lot of kicking and attacking down our short side."
'He's a good bloke'published at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2024
15:44 GMT 24 November 2024
England v Japan (16:10 GMT)
Eddie Jones' return to Twickenham follows criticism of his leadership style by former England scrum-half Danny Care, who claimed players were belittled and berated in a "toxic environment".
Speaking on Saturday, England prop Ellis Genge, who made his Test debut under Jones in 2016, says the Australian will relish the opportunity to beat his former side.
"I like the bloke. He was always... not always actually, he wasn't always nice to me, but we've got a good relationship," said Genge.
"He's a master of the psychological part of player development and man-management."
"Sometimes he gets it wrong. There have been some nightmare stories of late about him. But he's a good bloke. He's a good guy."
Team newspublished at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2024
15:23 GMT 24 November 2024
England v Japan (16:10 GMT)
Here's a reminder of how the teams will line up...
England: Furbank; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; M Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George (capt), Stuart, Itoje, Martin, T Curry, Underhill, Earl.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Opoku-Fordjour, Isiekwe, Cunningham-South, Randall, F Smith, Roebuck.