England have been rocked by multiple injury blows after Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso and Tom Curry were ruled out of the rest of their autumn campaign. George Furbank, Ollie Chessum and Seb Atkinson are also expected to miss the clash with Japan on Saturday, with the two-try hero Henry Pollock in line for a rare start in a much-changed XV.
Feyi-Waboso sustained an ankle injury in the first half of the 45-22 victory against Australia on Sunday and will miss games against Japan, New Zealand and England’s match on finals weekend. Tom Curry, who sustained a hip injury while training last week, is also out for the rest of November.
Ben Curry started at openside flanker against the Wallabies in the absence of his twin brother and excelled but Steve Borthwick has revealed that, as he recently recovered from a long-term hamstring injury, he is likely to drop out of the side against Japan, paving the way for Pollock to make his second England start in the back row. The Northampton tyro played on the wing in place of Feyi-Waboso in the second half on Sunday, but Borthwick is set to resist the temptation to start him there against Japan.
Furbank picked up a groin injury when starring on his first England appearance for two years while Atkinson was withdrawn with a hip problem. Chessum has a shoulder injury. England are hopeful that those three will recover to face the All Blacks on Saturday week, but they face a race against time to be fit for the fixture that should define England’s autumn.
Asked if he would consider starting Pollock on the wing after his impressive cameo against the Wallabies, Borthwick said: “It would be a consideration. I’ll probably be unlikely to do that. It’s not that I’m refraining from playing [Henry] on the wing, I think he might be needed in the back row.”
To replace Atkinson at inside-centre Borthwick will decide between Max Ojomoh, who impressed for England A in their win against an Argentina XV last Friday, and Fraser Dingwall. The head coach said: “[Max’s] was probably the standout performance [for England A]. At 12, I think it’s more likely that I’ll be looking at Max Ojomoh or Fraser Dingwall as options.”
On the wing Joe Marchant and Will Joseph are among contenders mentioned by Borthwick to replace Feyi‑Waboso, while Cadan Murley and Noah Caluori are other options and Tobias Elliott of Saracens has been called up. Borthwick intends to rest players to manage workloads for a six-day turnaround, so Tommy Freeman may sit out against Japan, meaning two different wings are selected.
Marcus Smith and Freddie Steward are the main contenders for the No 15 jersey in place of Furbank while Borthwick has a number of back‑row options to replace Chessum. Alex Coles could move to blindside flanker with George Martin starting at lock, while Greg Fisilau and Tom Pearson have been joined in the back-row ranks by Max Hicks and Harlequins’ Jack Kenningham. Hicks has represented New Zealand Māori but qualifies for England through his Cornish grandmother. Borthwick has again opted against turning to Courtney Lawes, who is available after his summer move to Sale, while the Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland is fit and may make his debut against Japan.
Eddie Jones, who was England head coach from 2016 to 2022, hinted his Japan side would look to throw a curveball or two to unsettle Borthwick’s men after the Brave Blossoms’ defeat by Wales on Saturday.
Borthwick said: “Eddie is an absolutely outstanding coach. I don’t know who the best rugby coaches in the world would be, but if you’re making a list of great coaches then he’s up towards the top. I’m sure Japan will have a tactical plan to come here and try and derail us. He’s very good at that.”
