England's Licence to Thrill: Japan Test After Australia Triumph 2026

England's licence to thrill against Japan comes after a near-perfect audition against Australia at Twickenham last week. The performance was a complete showing, with discipline, set piece, and try-scoring all clicking.

Now, Steve Borthwick has selected a much-changed team to face Japan, aiming to build momentum through the Nations Championship. The challenge is to maintain standards against a side that can be dangerous, as history shows.

England's Complete Performance Against Australia

England's victory over Australia was a statement. The team ticked almost every box: discipline was on point, the set piece functioned well, and they scored tries of all kinds. It was the kind of performance that had observers impressed and optimistic.

The result and the manner of it galvanised the squad, just as predicted a week earlier. It was a complete showing that left few areas for concern.

Why Japan Is a Potential Banana Skin

Japan is not to be taken lightly. England only need to look back to 2018 when they faced Japan, a match that became a graveyard for some players' international careers. That day, England struggled and the fallout was significant.

Borthwick will be wary of a similar trap. Japan plays with pace and innovation, and a much-changed England side must be fully focused to avoid an upset.

New Faces and Fresh Opportunities

Borthwick has picked a team that will excite supporters. Henry Pollock starts, bringing youthful energy and potential. Max Ojomoh and Will Joseph come in on great domestic form.

Ojomoh was man of the match in his last appearance against Argentina but has waited nearly a year for another chance. His selection shows that opportunity is never guaranteed and must be seized.

Key Players to Watch

• Henry Pollock: Starting for the first time, he brings dynamism to the back row.
• Max Ojomoh: Man of the match on his last cap, he has waited patiently for another shot.
• Will Joseph: In excellent domestic form, he adds pace and creativity to the midfield.
• George Ford: Provides experience and game management at fly-half.
• Freddie Steward: Solid at the back and dangerous in the air.
• Henry Slade: Partners Ojomoh in the centres, offering a calming influence.

The Role of Experience

Borthwick has balanced youth with a spine of experience. George Ford brings that in abundance, as does Freddie Steward, and having Henry Slade alongside Ojomoh will be ideal for the young centre.

That experience will be crucial in guiding the new caps through a potentially tricky encounter. Ford's game management and Steward's positioning will help steady the ship if Japan starts strongly.

What's at Stake in the Nations Championship

The Nations Championship provides a platform for England to build momentum. A convincing win over Japan would keep the feel-good factor from the Australia game alive.

It also gives Borthwick a chance to assess his squad depth ahead of tougher tests. Players like Pollock and Ojomoh have a golden opportunity to stake a claim for regular selection.

What to Watch Next

All eyes will be on how the new combinations gel. The midfield of Ojomoh and Slade is particularly intriguing, while Pollock's impact at the breakdown could be decisive. The background to this story is set out in England Rugby Defends Henry Pollock Over Argentina Gestures. A related thread runs through Australia vs Japan Rugby Live: Wallabies Win Nations Championship Test. Earlier coverage in England vs Australia Live: Nations Championship Rugby Showdown shows how the argument developed.

England must also maintain the discipline that served them so well against Australia. Giving away penalties will allow Japan to stay in the game and build confidence. A closer look at the same subject appears in England Rugby: Siege Mentality to Fuel Australia Clash. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Steve Borthwick's England Channel Rage to Resemble Finished Article. The same theme surfaces in Wallabies Rugby Team News: Les Kiss Names Halves for Japan Test, which takes a different angle.

If England can replicate the intensity and accuracy of last week, they should have too much for Japan. But as 2018 showed, nothing can be taken for granted. Context on how this played out before sits in Maro Itoje Backs Steve Borthwick After England's Record Win. A companion piece, England Rugby Injury Crisis Puts Steve Borthwick Under Pressure, approaches the same subject from another angle.

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