Pollock starts alongside Ojomoh and Joseph in bold England side
Henry Pollock, Max Ojomoh and Will Joseph will all start for England in Saturday's Nations Championship Test vs Japan as part of 10 changes.
Key points
- England: Steward; Joseph, Slade, Ojomoh, Murley; Ford, Van Poortvliet; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, Martin, Coles, Earl, Pollock Replacements: Dan, Iyogun, Heyes, Clark, Curry, Fisilau, McParland, M Smith Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
- However, a stellar performance in England A's win over an Argentina XV last Friday has earned Ojomoh promotion into the senior starting line-up ahead of Fraser Dingwall, with first choice Seb Atkinson ruled out with a hip injury.
- Joseph, whose older brother Jonathan won 54 caps for England between 2012 and 2020, has been one of the stars of Gloucester's resurgence this season, alternating between wing and midfield.
Pollock's only previous start for England came in a 42-21 defeat by Ireland in February [Getty Images] Free-scoring back row Henry Pollock will make only his second start for England after being named at number eight in a much-changed side for Saturday's Nations Championship meeting with Japan.
Additional details
- While Pollock has made regular try-scoring second-half cameos in his England career so far, the 21-year-old's only previous start was in February's dismal 42-21 home defeat by Ireland.
- Elsewhere in-form Will Joseph, whose only previous England cap came under now-Japan coach Eddie Jones in 2022, is given his chance in the absence of injured wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
- Like Pollock, Ojomoh knows that head coach Steve Borthwick will be focused on small details, as much as showreel highlights.
- Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland is poised to make his debut off the bench, with Greg Fisilau, Arthur Clark and Emmanuel Iyogun, who all have one cap, alongside him in an inexperienced set of replacements.
- Enforced absences have prevented England from building on last weekend's win with a similar selection, but others now have the chance to make their case a year out from the Rugby World Cup in Australia.
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