Stats & facts

England have won each of their previous five matches against Japan by margins of 20+ points, scoring 4+ tries in each of those games, including eight during their most recent encounter (52-17 in June 2024)

England have crossed the gainline from a higher share of their carries than any other men’s Tier 1 side in 2024 (64%) and have also prevented their opponents from crossing the gainline on a higher share of the carries than any other nation (50.0%).

England lock Maro Itoje has won the most turnovers of any player in men’s Tier 1 Test matches this year (13) and also ranks first for both attacking (278) and defensive (130) ruck hits in 2024.

Japan’s Dylan Riley (7 tries, 3 assists) and England’s Marcus Smith (2 tries, 7 assists) rank first and second respectively for direct try involvements in men’s Tier 1 rugby in 2024. Smith has scored three tries and assisted three across three matches against Japan, averaging a try involvement every 24 minutes against the Brave Blossoms.

Keep an eye on

• Asher Opoku-Fordjour. The Sale Sharks prop is named in Steve Borthwick's side for the first time, having won the World Rugby U20 Championship this summer. The 20-year-old is named among the replacements against Japan.
• Fin Smith. Fly-half Smith could get his first minutes of the Series as he has been named on the bench to face Japan and he also came off the bench against Japan in the Summer Tour.
• Tom Roebuck. Another Sale Sharks man is brought onto the bench for the game, with Roebuck looking to add to the minutes he got against South Africa last week.