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.
The stats for penalties conceded have just come up on Sky...
England: 7. Japan: 1.
That tells you everything you need to know.
Japan have headed out early onto the pitch and are currently practising some line-out drills. They're eager for this second half and with good reason.
Kick-off! Tamura kicks it long and England claim comfortably. We're under way here at Twickenham!
Substitutions: Farrell has replaced Lozowski while Nunomaki has come on for Nishikawa.
42 min: A decent spell of possession for England but it ends in a dropped ball from Williams who, rather surprisingly, got cleaned out by one of Japan's backs. The impact of the hit sent him sprawling backs, with the loose ball pounced upon by the opposition.
44 min: Farrell is starting to make his presence felt. He takes the ball into contact inside the opposition half but manages to release Nowell to his right with a sublime off-load. The 13 charges forward down the flank but he's stopped in his tracks by the Japan defence. No way through.
47 min: Japan line-out. It overshoots Leitch but Tamura is on hand to claim the ball and carries it into contact. All is not lost but England are soon back in possession and clear their lines from deep with a thumping Daly kick.
Substitution: Sam Underhill comes on for Zach Mercer while Ben Moon replaces Alec Hepburn.
50 min: Bosh. Cokanasiga takes the ball from deep following a Japan kick and has plenty of time and space to build up some speed. The collision with Fukuoka is seismic and sends the poor Japan defender stumbling backwards. It's enough to stop the England wing, though, who subsequently loses his balances and falls to the deck.
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