Ben Earl named vice-captain as England go full strength for Japan trip

Ben Earl has been named vice-captain for the first time in a full-strength England line-up to face Japan in Tokyo on Saturday.

The Saracens back-row forward joins Maro Itoje, Henry Slade and Joe Marler as deputies to skipper Jamie George in the Red Rose 23 to take on Eddie Jones' Brave Blossoms.

Head coach Steve Borthwick has announced his team two days ahead of schedule, purely because England are chomping at the bit for their three-match summer tour to start.

Marcus Smith has got the nod at fly-half in a settled back line including Northampton back-three duo George Furbank and Tommy Freeman. Up front, Sale's Bevan Rodd starts at loose-head prop, with Harlequins stalwart Marler on the bench. Quins' Chandler Cunningham-South starts at blindside flanker, partnering Sam Underhill and Earl in the back-row.

Just two years ago, Earl could not even make an England squad, now the 26-year-old is one of the team's most prominent leaders — and skipper George paid

tribute to his Saracens team-mate's graft behind the scenes to make his Test match mark.

"Ben went away and worked really hard, but I think the Saracens coaches deserve credit for that too," said George. "The Saracens environment needs a lot of credit for that, because he had a tough time internationally, came back and worked really hard and worked with Callum Clark, the psychologist, who has been doing a brilliant job with him.

"All credit to him. He deserves all the plaudits and hopefully he can continue that rich vein of form he has found. He is a big player for this team."

Sale wing Tom Roebuck will be primed for his Test debut off a strong bench, where Bristol's Harry Randall has edged out Ben Spencer as scrum-half cover.

Tipping Earl to press on and hit his peak now, having broken through at last year's World Cup, George insisted the versatile No8 is perhaps a unique talent in the current game.

"What he does in space, you could easily see him playing with a 12 or 13 on his back," said George. "He is that sort of player. I don't know if there are any back rows like him in the world at the minute."

England starting lineup

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.