England rugby squad: Caluori and Ojomoh called up for Japan Test

The England rugby squad has been reshaped for Saturday’s Nations Championship meeting with Japan. Steve Borthwick has made six changes to his 36-man training group after injuries piled up in the 45-22 win over Australia. Noah Caluori and Max Ojomoh have been promoted from the England A squad, Reuters reported on Monday evening.

England face Japan at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday 14 November. Kick-off is at 4.40pm GMT, and the match is live on ITV1 and ITVX. Full viewing details are in our England vs Japan TV guide.

England rugby squad changes for Japan

Caluori and Ojomoh come in from the England A group that beat an Argentina XV last Friday. Saracens wing Tobias Elliott has also been called up, according to The Guardian. Harlequins flanker Jack Kenningham and Max Hicks have joined the back-row options. Hicks has played for the New Zealand Māori but qualifies for England through his Cornish grandmother.

Borthwick plans to rest some players because of the six-day turnaround before New Zealand visit Twickenham. That means Tommy Freeman may sit out against Japan. If so, England would pick two different wings from the side that beat the Wallabies. Courtney Lawes, who is available after his summer move to Sale, has again not been selected.

Who is injured?

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tom Curry are out for the rest of the Nations Championship. We covered that blow in our Feyi-Waboso and Curry injury report. The Exeter wing hurt his right ankle in a hip-drop tackle by Angus Bell. Curry aggravated a long-standing hip problem in training last week.

Three more starters are set to miss the Japan game. George Furbank has a groin injury, Ollie Chessum a shoulder problem and Seb Atkinson a hip issue. England hope all three can recover in time to face the All Blacks on Saturday week. The Associated Press noted that the update robs England of four starters from Sunday’s team.

Player	Injury	Status
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso	Right ankle	Out for rest of Nations Championship
Tom Curry	Hip	Out for rest of Nations Championship
George Furbank	Groin	Set to miss Japan
Ollie Chessum	Shoulder	Set to miss Japan
Seb Atkinson	Hip	Set to miss Japan

Ojomoh or Dingwall at inside-centre

Atkinson’s absence opens a place at number 12. Borthwick named two candidates. “At 12, I think it’s more likely that I’ll be looking at Max Ojomoh or Fraser Dingwall as options,” he said. He added that Ojomoh’s display for England A was “probably the standout performance”.

Wing and full-back options

Joe Marchant and Will Joseph are among the contenders to replace Feyi-Waboso on the wing. Cadan Murley and Caluori are further options, with Elliott also in the group. At full-back, Marcus Smith and Freddie Steward are the main candidates to step in for Furbank.

Pollock and the back row

Henry Pollock scored twice against Australia after moving to the wing. Borthwick is unlikely to start him there against Japan, though. “It would be a consideration. I’ll probably be unlikely to do that,” the head coach said. “It’s not that I’m refraining from playing [Henry] on the wing, I think he might be needed in the back row.”

Ben Curry is likely to drop out after his recent return from a long-term hamstring injury. That could hand Pollock his second England start in the back row. Alex Coles could move to blindside flanker, with George Martin starting at lock. Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland is fit and may make his debut. Borthwick also praised Japan coach Eddie Jones. “I’m sure Japan will have a tactical plan to come here and try and derail us. He’s very good at that,” he said.

Full England training squad

Forwards: Fin Baxter, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Greg Fisilau, Jamie George, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Max Hicks, Maro Itoje, Emmanuel Iyogun, Jack Kenningham, George Martin, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Pearson, Henry Pollock, Will Stuart.

Backs: Noah Caluori, Fraser Dingwall, Tobias Elliott, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, Will Joseph, Joe Marchant, Cadan Murley, Archie McParland, Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet.

For more on Borthwick’s side, read how Maro Itoje hailed Steve Borthwick after the Australia win. Our international rugby hub has all the latest Nations Championship news.