England vs Japan: Uncapped quartet included but George Kruis misses out with injury
Nick Schonert, Elliott Stooke, Ted Hill and Joe Cokanasiga are all named in a 30-man squad that will prepare to face Japan
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Your support makes all the difference.England will field a strong line-up against Japan after retaining the bulk of the squad that narrowly missed out on defeating New Zealand last weekend, although George Kruis has been left out after picking up an calf injury.
Kruis is the only played from last Saturday’s 16-15 defeat at Twickenham who has not been called into camp for the Japan Test week, with the lock limping off in the 67th minute after picking up a knock to his leg late in the match with the All Blacks.
With Kruis joining Joe Launchbury in being unavailable, Bath second-row Elliott Stooke is recalled to a 30-man squad, which also features a handful of uncapped faces.
Worcester prop Nick Schonert and Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga join Stooke in the squad and could make their first appearances for England if Eddie Jones decides to rotate his side, following hard-fought encounters with South Africa and New Zealand. Zach Mercer also returns after being the unlucky forward who missed out on selection last week despite an impressive cameo against the Springboks.
Worcester back-row Ted Hill is also included, although the 19-year-old once again fills the role as an apprentice.
Manu Tuilagi is also included among the backs, although Jones is unlikely to risk the Leicester Tigers centre unless he is 100 per cent fit, having suffered a minor groin strain two days before the Springboks clash.
Saracens scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth joins Ben Youngs and Danny Care as options at No 9, while Alex Lozowski is included after serving a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle during Saracens’ European Champions Cup victory over Glasgow Warriors last month.
The 30-man squad will be cut to the match-day 23 on Thursday, with Jones choosing to cut his preparations this week to just three days in order to replicate what the team will experience at next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Jones is likely to promote a number of replacements against Japan to increase their game time, with Jamie George, Courtney Lawes and George Ford pushing for starts as the head coach considers giving Owen Farrell a break, along with a number of other first-team regulars.
England squad to face Japan
Forwards
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors) *, Maro Itoje (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).
Backs
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Alex Lozowski (Saracens), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
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