Borthwick opts to select quartet of Bath players
ENGLAND head coach Steve Borthwick has selected a quartet of Bath Rugby players in his matchday 23 to face Japan in Tokyo on Saturday.
Ollie Lawrence and Sam Underhill start the game, while lock Charlie Ewels caps a remarkable return to form by being named on the bench.
Ewels, who has 30 caps for his country, missed nearly the entire 2022/23 season after injuring his ACL while on tour with England in Australia two summers ago.
He returned to action in the Spring of 2023 on a short-term loan with South African side the Bulls and has enjoyed arguably his best club season to date in 2023/24, playing a key role in leading Bath to their first Premiership final in nine years.
Borthwick has not be afraid to throw players involved in the Gallagher Premiership final just 11 days ago straight into his match-day squad, with eight men who competed for the domestic silverware in his 23 confirmed for Tokyo.
Bath tighthead Will Stuart has also been named on the bench, but scrum-half Ben Spencer misses out to Northampton’s Alex Mitchell, who starts, and Bristol Bears number nine Harry Randall, who is among the replacements.
Marcus Smith has pipped his near-namesake Fin Smith for the ten jersey.
Jamie George will skipper England for the first ever official Test match between the two nations to be played in Japan. The England skipper will be supported by four vicecaptains: Maro Itoje, Ben Earl, Henry Slade and Joe Marler.
Borthwick has named a strong side for first Test of the summer series, but there is no doubt the main event of the tour comes with a double header against New Zealand in July.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge of playing Japan at their National Stadium,” said Borthwick. “Conditions in Tokyo mean we’ll need to be accurate, keep our discipline, and maintain a level of intensity in our performance from the first whistle to the last. We will need to be at our very best against an opponent who will want to play fast.”
England: G Furbank; I Feyi-Waboso, H Slade, O Lawrence, T Freeman; M Smith, A Mitchell; B Rodd, J George (capt), D Cole, M Itoje, G Martin, C Cunningham-South, S Underhill, B Earl. Replacements: T Dan, J Marler, W Stuart, C Ewels, T Curry, H Randall, F Smith, T Roebuck. ■ CRICKET: Sam Curran admits he has struggled to cope with going from player of the tournament at the last T20 World Cup to fighting for a place in their title defence.
The all-rounder was the beating heart of the side’s triumph in Australia in 2022, where his left-arm swing was a match-winning weapon. He topped the wicket charts with 13 in six games and produced a decisive turn of three for 12 in the final against Pakistan.
But a little more than 18 months down the line he finds himself striving to break into the first-choice XI, with his best chance of featuring in England’s first Super 8 game against the West Indies seemingly an injury doubt over Liam Livingstone.
“It’s been hard, to be honest, very difficult,” he said. “I feel like England is a team I’ve done really well for, but I guess it shows the strength of our squad at the moment. I know in my mind an opportunity is going to come so I’ve tried not to get too down on myself. Maybe it will be the World Cup final where I get that nod. I’ll make sure I’m ready. I’ve got to keep that mindset.”
The Super 8s game against the Windies is scheduled for 1.30am UK time tomorrow.