- England have lost all three of their Autumn Nations matches to date
- Steve Borthwick has made just two changes to his starting line-up to face Japan
- The England head coach knows that losing to Japan would be unthinkable
England can’t lose against Japan and they won’t lose, but the predicament they find themselves in appears to have left Steve Borthwick reluctant to experiment, when he could have done.
The head coach has resisted any urge to make wholesale changes for the Autumn Nations Series finale against the Brave Blossoms. He likes to stay steady and consistent as a selector; at least ever since the shock ploy to switch Marcus Smith to full-back during the World Cup last year.
Given the limitations of the opposition on Sunday, only two alterations to the hosts’ starting XV is a surprise. But given the circumstances – five successive defeats and mounting pressure – the safety-first approach is perhaps more understandable.
It would be fascinating to know whether Borthwick might have rolled the dice more, if England had managed to win one or two of their first three Tests in this campaign, against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Instead, there is a sense of enforced desperation to cling on to any traces of cohesion and momentum – however faint – and finish with a flourish.
But it does make this a wasted opportunity. It would have been an ideal moment to hand Fin Smith a first Test start at 10, instead of picking him for a bench role, with Marcus Smith continuing as the starting playmaker. If the attack had been purring and prolific, that might have been a shrewd move, but it has been hit and miss, so upheaval within the creative hub of the side could have backfired.
Without significant game-time this weekend, Northampton’s rookie fly-half can’t realistically expect to force his way into contention for a major role when England next convene, as they will face Ireland away, then France at home, at the start of the Six Nations.
Steve Borthwick has reverted to a safety-first approach for England’s clash with Japan
Jamie George (left) and his side know they must finally get a win on the board this weekend
Japan are unlikely to have the firepower to beat England but must not be taken lightly
Those most certainly are not experimentation occasions, whereas this is, which surely explains why Fin Smith is in the 23 and George Ford is omitted. The veteran played at the start of the month when he was short of match sharpness and is now left out when he’s actually ready.
At loosehead prop, where Fin Baxter might have hoped for another start in place of Ellis Genge, but the vice-captain has been retained in an unchanged front row. Midfield appeared to be another area where a freshen-up was worth trying, but instead poor Alex Lozowski’s wait for another Test cap – six years after winning his last – goes on, despite his supreme form for Saracens, before coming into camp to hold tackle bags for a month.
His club-mate, Tom Willis, had done enough to be considered for a debut in this game, as a forceful, orthodox, hard-carrying No 8, but he is nowhere to be seen. Ben Earl retains his established place at the base of the scrum, which means he, too, will be entrenched where he is for the start of next year’s annual championship.
Japan will threaten England with their high-octane approach, but are unlikely to have the array of firepower and squad reserves to sustain their challenge deep into the second half. So, Sunday was the chance to see if some new solutions can be uncovered for a number of pressing problems, but above all else Borthwick knows he just needs a convincing win, to buy some breathing space.
So, he has largely gone with his tried-and-trusted men. At least Sale’s prop sensation, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, has been included. Intriguingly, he is the designated tighthead replacement, having played in that position for his club, while being regarded as a loosehead by England – in the Under 20 squad which used scrum clout as a weapon of mass destruction on the way to junior World Cup glory during the summer.
Twickenham should greet the newcomer in the front row with noisy enthusiasm when he is sent on. His arrival is really good news – and there hasn’t been enough of that around lately.
