Morning everybody (yes it’s early, I have coffee, I hope you do too). Welcome to the start of Test rugby this summer – which feels quite weird to say given it feels like the Premiership final finished about two seconds ago.
England are expecting a sticky and hot afternoon in Tokyo at the Olympic Stadium, which was originally intended to be part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup venues but was delayed until the Olympics in 2021. Based on footage of England’s captain’s run it absolutely hosed it down on Friday, but I’m told by the Met Office that today it’s about 27 degrees with only 50 per cent humidity, which is toasty.
Having watched England train at Pennyhill Park earlier this month by going through a number of grim drills with four heaters blasting at them, followed up by a hot bath and a trip to the sauna (for them, not me), they’ve certainly been prepped for these conditions.
Stadium and weather chat aside, there are a ton of interesting subplots around this game – Borthwick vs Eddie, England vs Eddie, Japan picking eight uncapped players and a university student at full-back for Jones’ first game in charge, a first start together for the combination of Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith at half-back.
England have gone relatively strong with an eye on the All Blacks in a fortnight’s time, and you would expect the same backline to be present in Dunedin. Perhaps it will be the same pack too, where England have been forced to rejig with Ollie Chessum out injured after ending the Six Nations so well. The one surprise selection might be Bevan Rodd at loosehead, given this felt like the summer where England would have bedded in Fin Baxter. The young Harlequin is not in the 23 at all, which feels notable.
Lots of build up coming your way over the next hour – let me know in the comments what’s on the breakfast menu.
