England vs Japan LIVE: Latest score, match stream, rugby updates and reaction

Star power: Henry Pollock starts for England against Japan at TwickenhamGettyRugby’s Nations Championship continues at Twickenham after Wales’ historic upset of New Zealand, as England face a Japan side coached by Eddie Jones. The hosts are heavy favourites to record another strong win and get one over on their former long-time boss, having eased the latest pressure on Steve Borthwick with a record rout of Australia last weekend. 45 points was the most they have ever scored in a game against the Wallabies, who were blown away by seven tries.England pledged to come out fighting for Borthwick after headlines over an alleged rift in camp and did just that, making it three wins in a row after finishing the summer with victories over Fiji and Argentina. They should take care of Japan in a warm-up for next weekend’s showdown with the wounded All Blacks, though as ever there have been plenty of mind games from Jones, who says his team want the “sky to fall in” at Twickenham as they target a first-ever win over England.Borthwick has made 10 changes to the side that thrashed Australia for his 50th game in charge, including starts for the likes of Henry Pollock, Max Ojomoh, George Ford and Will Joseph. Follow England vs Japan live below!England vs Japan latest newsHere come the teamsThe teams are out at a freezing cold Twickenham, where the usual burst of pre-match pyrotechnics will come as a warming relief to many fans.After a minute’s applause, it’s time for the national anthems.God Save The King will come second.Focus switches to Twickenham after Wales heroicsStandard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at TwickenhamKick-off is in 20 minutes here at Twickenham. It is going to take some doing for this game to top what we've just witnessed in Cardiff.GettyGettyEngland will face wounded New Zealand after Wales shockA penny for Dave Rennie’s thoughts right about now after the New Zealand head coach made eight changes from last weekend’s comfortable win over Scotland at Murrayfield.Steve Borthwick might be a bit miffed that Wales have just made the All Blacks very angry before they head to Twickenham...PAWales stun New Zealand in historic upsetUtterly extraordinary scenes in Cardiff, where Wales have just stunned New Zealand 35-28 in an almighty upset.It is their first win over the All Blacks since all the way back in 1953, having lost 34 games in a row against them.Steve Tandy’s side delivered an absolutely incredible second-half defensive effort at the Principality Stadium to hold on following tries by Tomos Williams, Dewi Lake, Archie Griffin, Eddie James and Louis Rees-Zammit - all of which were converted by Sam Costelow.New Zealand got tries from Cortez Ratima, Wallace Sititi, Fehi Fineanganofo and Peter Lakai, all converted by Richie Mo’unga, but could not hit back again late on despite their dominance.What a moment for Wales after such an abysmal few years for Welsh rugby, both on and off the pitch. No one gave them even the slightest chance.It’s just the sort of result this inaugural Nations Championship needed, with most matches having gone the way of the favourites so far.It follows injury-plagued France’s epic win over South Africa in Paris last night.That should give Japan plenty of hope, while England will be facing a wounded All Blacks team next weekend.Things just got very interesting indeed...PAEddie Jones: Japan want 'the sky to fall in' at TwickenhamHere’s more from Eddie Jones on how Japan can shock the world at Twickenham this afternoon.It is four years next month since the Australian was sacked by the RFU.He had been in post for seven years - following his first spell with Japan - and his dismissal came just nine months before the World Cup in France.Jones won three Six Nations titles, one Grand Slam and reached one World Cup final during his time in charge, producing the highest win ratio of any England head coach in history before a dire run ultimately cost him his job."We're massive underdogs," Jones told BBC Radio 5 Live this week."We've got to find a way to disrupt an England side that's looking at New Zealand next week and sometimes may be a little bit distracted."Our opportunity is to get in there, cause some havoc, cause some chaos, put off their game, get the crowd booing.“Then the sky starts to come in on Twickenham and you never know what can happen."We've seen it happen with Italy and other countries."GettyEngland looking to lay down marker for New Zealand clashStandard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau checks in from a bitterly cold Twickenham, where much-changed England are looking to lay down another marker ahead of facing the All Blacks next weekend.Opportunity knocks for a number of players with the World Cup in Australia now less than a year away, including Max Ojomoh and Will Joseph.Unusual reason Ryunosuke Ito is unavailable for JapanJapan certainly win the award for the most unusual absence of a key player during this concluding autumn portion of the inaugural Nations Championship.Highly-rated young fly-half Ryunosuke Ito is unavailable as he is playing for Meiji University in the Kanto University Intercollegiate Championship."That's the uniqueness of Japanese rugby," said Jones of Ito’s absence.Ito, 21, had never previously played a match of professional rugby before being selected by Jones for the impressive 27-10 win over Italy in July.He later scored a remarkable individual try in the narrow defeat by Australia in Osaka.Ito will begin his professional club career with Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath next season, meaning no more clashes with university rugby.GettyEngland hit back at Eddie Jones mind gamesThere have been all manner of trademark mind games from Eddie Jones this week as he makes his latest return to Twickenham.Among his many claims has been that England might well be distracted by their upcoming clash with New Zealand, allowing his Japan side to potentially take advantage and spring a massive upset in beating England for the very first time.“That’s nowhere near the case because we understand how important this game is,” England scrum coach Tom Harrison hit back on Friday.“We understand the challenge Japan can throw at us and we have to be alive in every single moment to the type of rugby they play.“We understand that there might be unorthodox things coming our way, but our need is to be alive.“I’ve never worked with Eddie but I’ve met him a few times and he’s a rugby genius, the way he thinks about the game and the way the players talk about him.”PAArchie McParland set to make England debutThere will be an England debut off the bench this afternoon for Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland, who has recovered from injury to make the matchday squad.His absence last weekend and another hamstring injury for Alex Mitchell that has ruled him out of the autumn saw Ben Spencer and Harry Randall both called up late as cover for Jack van Poortvliet ahead of the Australia game.There will also be a second cap for Exeter back row Greg Fisilau, who made his England debut as a replacement against the Wallabies.Arthur Clark and Emmanuel Iyogun also only have one England cap apiece, while Theo Dan will be keen to show that he is the next best hooker option after Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie, with the uncapped Kepu Tuipulotu currently injured.GettyEngland vs Japan predictionEddie Jones has predictably ramped up the mind games ahead of his latest reunion with England in trademark style, insisting that Japan are out to make the “sky fall in” at Twickenham after another tumultuous period for successor Steve Borthwick.Though his side are enormous underdogs who have never previously beaten England, he says they will take inspiration from Italy, who recorded their first-ever win over them in the Six Nations earlier this year. Fiji did likewise in the build-up to the 2023 World Cup.Japan are a talented team with a number of dangerous threats and they made life trickier than it needed to be for a flat Wales side last weekend.However, England delivered the best possible riposte to the suggestions of disharmony in camp by running riot against Australia in a sign that they are clearly still behind Borthwick and expanding their oft-criticised attacking game with the World Cup on the horizon.We expect them to be even more ruthless here as they warm up for a huge showdown with the All Blacks ahead of finals weekend.England to win, by 25 points.Getty