Pollock, Ojomoh and Joseph start for England against Japan

Henry Pollock will make only his second start for England when Steve Borthwick’s side face Japan in the Nations Championship at Twickenham on Saturday, with Max Ojomoh and Will Joseph also brought into a reshaped starting line-up.

Pollock, 21, starts at number eight after scoring twice as a replacement against Australia last weekend. He has scored eight tries in 14 England Tests, but his only previous start was in February’s 42-21 defeat by Ireland.

Ojomoh returns to the starting side at inside centre after impressing for England A against an Argentina XV last Friday. He was not initially included in England’s 36-player squad for this month’s matches and has not played for the senior side since the win over Argentina a year ago. He replaces Fraser Dingwall, with first-choice centre Seb Atkinson ruled out by a hip injury.

Joseph, whose only previous England cap came in 2022, is selected at outside centre in place of the injured Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. The Gloucester player has featured on the wing and in midfield this season.

England have also changed their front row, with Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Asher Opoku-Fordjour starting. George Ford is at fly-half, while Marcus Smith is among the replacements. Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland could make his England debut from the bench.

The match kicks off at 16:40 GMT on Saturday, 14 November. England’s selection comes a year before the Rugby World Cup in Australia, giving players including Pollock and Ojomoh an opportunity to press their claims for regular starting places.