England vs Japan LIVE - Latest score and updates as hosts struggle against Brave Blossoms
Follow the latest from the autumn international clash at Twickenham
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Your support makes all the difference.A heavily changed England side takes on Japan on Saturday afternoon in the third of their autumn internationals, with Eddie Jones looking to get his side back to winning ways after last weekend’s defeat by the All Blacks.
Jones hands Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga his England debut while Zach Mercer makes his first start at No 8, with only four players being retained and just two of those in the same position in the form of full-back Elliot Daly and lock Maro Itoje.
George Ford comes in at fly-half to replace Owen Farrell and captain the side on what will be his 50th cap, but he will want to ensure that England do not suffer a similar fate to the Springboks in 2015 after witnessing Japan pull off one of the great shocks of rugby union. Follow the live action below.
What time does it start?
England vs Japan kicks off at 3:00pm on Saturday 17 November.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main event from 2:30pm.
Teams
England: Elliot Daly; Joe Cokanasiga, Jack Nowell, Alex Lozowski, Chris Ashton; George Ford, Danny Care; Alec Hepburn, Jamie George, Harry Williams; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Courtney Lawes, Mark Wilson, Zach Mercer.
Replacements: Dylan Hartley, Ben Moon, Kyle Sinckler, Ted Hill, Sam Underhill, Richard Wigglesworth, Owen Farrell, Henry Slade.
Japan: Will Tupou; Akihito Yamada, Timothy Lafaele, Ryoto Nakamura, Kenki Fukuoka; Yu Tamura, Fumiaki Tanaka; Keita Inagaki, Atsushi Sakate, Koo Ji-won, Wimpie van der Walt; Uwe Helu, Michael Leitch, Masakatsu Nishikawa, Kazuki Himeno.
Replacements: Yusuke Niwai, Koki Yamamoto, Aasaeli Ai Valu, Samuela Anise, Hendrik Tui, Shunsuke Nunomaki, Yutaka Nagare, Rikiya Matsuda.
Ah, my colleague has just informed me it's a near sell-out with more than 80,000 tickets sold... #FollowTheRose
Plenty of applause for 25-year-old George Ford as he makes his way out onto the pitch by himself. 50 caps for the fly-half. Quite an achievement for a player as young as him.
Right, here we go folks. Time for another 80 minutes of what we hope will be high quality rugby from both sides. Game on.
2 min: It doesn't take long for England to reclaim possession and they're now just going through the motions, working the visitors inside their own half. Japan are holding firm though. No breakthrough in sight for Jones' men.
England 7-0 Japan (Care try, 4 mins):
A lovely try from the hosts. Hot under the collar, Japan kicked from deep and straight into the hands of Elliot Daly. The full-back proceeded to work his way forward, beating two men, before releasing Joe Cokanasiga down the left flank. The wing must have made 20-odd metres before popping it inside to the supporting players. From there, England kept on working the ball inwards before Care burst forward to dive over the line. Farrell converts.
8 mins: Some pressure from Japan, who are currently camped outside England's 22 down on the left corner. After a prolonged period of pressure, it goes wide with the intention of a switch between the 12 and 13 but the ball is dropped backwards. Respite for England who are afforded time to regroup.
9 min: A penalty for Japan after Wilson gets pulled up for failing to roll away. The visitors opt for the line-out as opposed as a kick at the posts. Here comes the rolling maul... but England resist before Wilson concedes yet another penalty just outside the hosts' try line.
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