Japan vs England LIVE!

England brushed aside Japan as they kicked off their 2024 summer tour in fine style on Saturday. Steve Borthwick’s ruthless side ran in a total of eight tries during a 52-17 demolition of an inexperienced Japan team in the heat and humidity of Tokyo, with Chandler Cunningham-South notching on his maiden Test start before Marcus Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Alex Mitchell, Ben Earl, Harry Randall and Sam Underhill also touched down at the National Stadium.

Spirited Japan got two late scores of their own from Koga Nezuka and Samisoni Tua, with the otherwise excellent Smith sent to the sin-bin for an early tackle on Jone Naikabula. Replacement England lock Charlie Ewels was also shown a yellow card for a dangerous late clear-out on Brave Blossoms captain Michael Leitch that was swiftly upgraded to red following a bunker review, leaving his status uncertain for next month’s looming two-Test tour against the formidable All Blacks in New Zealand. He is also the first player ever to be sent off twice for England.

Despite that one sour note, overall it was a very pleasing day indeed in the Far East for England head coach Steve Borthwick, who ensured coaching bragging rights over former mentor Eddie Jones in England’s first meeting with their ex-boss since he was sacked by the RFU in December 2022. Follow Japan vs England reaction live below!

Japan vs England highlights

• RED CARD! Ewels yellow for dangerous clear-out upgraded

• TRY! Underhill goes over for England's eighth late on

• TRY! Delightful Dearns releases Tua for quick-fire second

• TRY! Nezuka with consolation effort for Japan

• TRY! Randall adds another after Smith yellow card

• TRY! Earl delivers sixth score for ruthless England

• TRY! Mitchell piles on punishment after the interval

• TRY! Slade adds fourth after brilliant Smith kick

• TRY! Feyi-Waboso saunters in to extend first-half lead

• TRY! Marcus Smith races clear for second score

• TRY! Cunningham-South touches down on first Test start

Eddie Jones: There is real potential in Japanese rugby

10:26 , George Flood

Eddie Jones admitted it was rough going for his young Japan side today, but said he was pleased with their set-piece work and believes the future is bright for the Brave Blossoms.

"It was a pretty tough game for us. England are a strong, powerful team.

"But I was really pleased with our set-piece work which kept us in the game for a long period of time.

"We've been working on things in our attack and we created opportunities but we weren't able to finish them.

"Our movement around the ball still isn't sharp enough. But there is real potential here for Japanese rugby."

Steve Borthwick pleased with 'really excellent' England

10:21 , George Flood

Here’s England boss Steve Borthwick speaking to RugbyPass TV...

"I'm really pleased with the result and I thought the application of the players was really excellent.

"Clearly late in the game our cohesion broke up a little against a very fast and skilful Japanese team who took their chances really well.

"The ball movement of the Japanese team was really excellent and you can tell that over the next period of time their team is going to grow.

"They play in a certain way and are very, very dangerous and we had to defend really well to keep them out, especially in that first 20 minutes."

Jamie George: We couldn't have more respect for Eddie Jones

10:16 , George Flood

England skipper Jamie George is asked about coming up against former boss Eddie Jones for the first time since his 2022 sacking...

"Japan are a fantastic team.

“We knew they would be well drilled and we obviously know Eddie very well.

“We couldn't have more respect for him as a person and a coach.

"Japan played with very high tempo and I think they will be very successful over the next few years."

Jamie George 'proud' of England display in Tokyo

10:13 , George Flood

Here’s the England captain speaking to RugbyPass TV...

"It was a really tough game. The conditions were very difficult. I'm very proud with the way we went about our business.

"It was always going to be very difficult to come over here and get the result, but we're very happy with that.

"It took us a little while to get used to the conditions but off the back of that we were really efficient with the ball and moved the ball into space.

"We've got some really talented backs with a lot of speed and we managed to show that."

Charlie Ewels becomes first England player to be sent off twice

10:11 , George Flood

Charlie Ewels, by the way, has suffered the ignominy of becoming the first England player ever to be sent off twice for his country.

He was also dismissed on his last international appearance against Ireland in the 2022 Six Nations at Twickenham, picking up the fastest red card in the tournament’s history for a head-to-head hit on fellow lock James Ryan after only 82 seconds.

Smith shines as electric England thrash Japan in eight-try rout

09:46 , George Flood

A superb start to the summer tour then from England, who notch eight tries in total in a complete rout of former coach Eddie Jones and his inexperienced Japan team in the heat and humidity of Tokyo.

Chandler Cunningham-South, Marcus Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Alex Mitchell, Ben Earl, Harry Randall and Sam Underhill all on the scoresheet.

Marcus Smith also surely cements his place as the starting No10 with no George Ford or Owen Farrell and with that tough two-Test series against the formidable All Blacks looming in New Zealand next month.

He will be disappointed with that second-half yellow card though, as will Charlie Ewels following his initial caution that was quickly upgraded to red in the bunker.

Will he still go to New Zealand you wonder?

Japan 17-52 England

09:01 , George Flood

Full-time

Japan 17-52 England

08:52 , George Flood

80 mins: So close to a last-gasp ninth try from Ollie Lawrence but he just can’t reach it!

Red card - Charlie Ewels (England)

08:49 , George Flood

After the try comes the news that Charlie Ewels’ yellow card for that clear-out on Michael Leitch has been upgraded to red after bunker review.

It’s deemed highly-dangerous play with no mitigating factors.

A huge blow for the Bath man ahead of the looming New Zealand series.

TRY! Japan 17-52 England | Sam Underhill 77'

08:48 , George Flood

77 mins: An eighth try with minutes to go for England!

A perfect driving maul executed off the lineout, finished off by flanker Underhill.

The conversion sails through from distance.

Yellow card - Charlie Ewels (England)

08:43 , George Flood

72 mins: Ewels follows Marcus Smith in becoming the second England player to be shown yellow in this second half.

It’s a very dangerous clear-out at the ruck as he charges straight into the leg of Japan captain Leitch.

This will be reviewed in the bunker too, so could yet get worse.

TRY! Japan 17-45 England | Samisoni Tua 69'

08:39 , George Flood

69 mins: What a try!

Wonderful play from Dearns, who juggles a catch one-handed and strides forward before releasing Samisoni Tua to race away and make it a quick-fire double.

The Brave Blossoms are not giving up in Tokyo.

TRY! Japan 10-45 England | Koga Nezuka 66'

08:33 , George Flood

66 mins: Something for this home crowd to shout about at last!

Japan 3-45 England

08:32 , George Flood

63 mins: Marcus Smith won’t be coming back on after that yellow card.

Namesake Fin on at fly-half for England.

Japan 3-45 England

08:29 , George Flood

60 mins: On comes Sale wing Tom Roebuck for his England debut on the hour mark.

He replaces Feyi-Waboso.

TRY! Japan 3-45 England | Harry Randall 56'

08:26 , George Flood

58 mins: 14 men? No matter for ruthless England.

A close-range dart from replacement scrum-half Randall makes it seven tries in Tokyo with just over 20 minutes still to play.

Errors all over the place in both attack and defence from Japan despite Eddie Jones ringing the changes in this second half.

Slade knocks over the conversion in Smith’s absence.

Yellow card - Marcus Smith (England)

08:19 , George Flood

54 mins: A blip on an other wise excellent day for Smith as he is sin-binned for an early hit on the dangerous Naikabula.

England’s 14 men under pressure deep inside their own 22.

Japan 3-38 England

08:18 , George Flood

53 mins: Inexperienced Japan have taken some heavy punishment here, with that promising start now feeling like it was a long, long time ago.

But here they are back in the England 22 at last, putting the phases together and stretching the defence.

Smith could be in trouble here for an early tackle.

Tom Curry and Harry Randall are on for Sam Underhill and Alex Mitchell for England.

TRY! Japan 3-38 England | Ben Earl 49'

08:16 , George Flood

49 mins: It’s try No6 for England!

After Dan Cole is held up by Japan skipper Leitch, England kick for the lineout.

Mitchell looks to dart over again after a good run by Dan, with Earl finishing things off after being teed up by the England 9.

No luck this time from the tee for Marcus Smith as he misses the conversion.

Japan 3-33 England

08:09 , George Flood

Theo Dan and Joe Marler are England’s first introductions off the bench.

Jamie George and Bevan Rodd make way.

TRY! Japan 3-33 England | Alex Mitchell 43'

08:06 , George Flood

43 mins: England are in again early in the second half!

Sublime scrum-half play from Mitchell to spy the snipe and dart his way through.

Smith duly adds another conversion and things keep getting worse for Japan.

Japan 3-26 England

08:01 , George Flood

Back underway in Tokyo!

Can inexperienced Japan stop this from getting really ugly?

You imagine that Steve Borthwick will start ringing the changes soon, with one eye on that first Test against the All Blacks in Dunedin on July 6.

Japan 3-26 England

07:57 , George Flood

Superb Smith was also the beneficiary of this perfectly-executed set-piece move from England

Japan 3-26 England

07:55 , George Flood

Just sublime from Marcus Smith to set up that fourth try from Henry Slade on the stroke of half-time

Marcus Smith shines in first half for England

07:52 , George Flood

So far, so good for England in the heat and humidity of Tokyo.

They made a shaky start and there have been some errors in tough conditions, but you can’t argue with four very well-worked tries to give them a commanding 23-point lead at the break.

Marcus Smith has been superb and surely has a firm grip on that No10 shirt now with the All Blacks series looming.

One try and two stylish assists for the Harlequins star.

Japan 3-26 England

07:46 , George Flood

Half-time

TRY! Japan 3-26 England | Henry Slade 40'

07:43 , George Flood

40 mins: England have their fourth try on the cusp of half-time!

It’s a sensational kick to switch the play from Smith after more hard yards earned through the carries, with Slade lurking on that right wing and he takes in the ball and beats his man all ends up before touching down.

Excellent try - what a half Smith is having on such a big day for him.

His first miss from the tee closes the first half. England lead 26-3.

Japan 3-21 England

07:41 , George Flood

39 mins: The ever-physical Lawrence looks to smash through for the England line break, but the support is too slow in forthcoming and Naikabula is able to get his considerable frame quickly over the ball to earn a pressure-relieving Japan penalty.

Japan 3-21 England

07:40 , George Flood

38 mins: England are quickly back up to the try line, but a fine spot of swift counter-rucking from Japan sees them escape further punishment on this occasion.

They eventually clear, but England will have control of another lineout inside the 22.

Japan 3-21 England

07:39 , George Flood

36 mins: The penalties are mounting from Japan now as they get put under yet more pressure, leading to an England lineout as Cunningham-South is then taken down early.

Smith kicks to the corner. Can the driving maul produce try No4 before the break?

Japan 3-21 England

07:37 , George Flood

34 mins: England piece together another promising attack, having won their latest scrum penalty following that disappointment for Costley.

However, it’s all a bit too narrow and congested in the middle, with Lawrence spilling a fizzed close-range pass from centre partner Slade.

Japan 3-21 England

07:36 , George Flood

32 mins: Youthful Japan are still battling here in this tough first half, despite so much of their early verve and daring now having been firmly extinguished.

New Zealand-born flanker Tiennan Costley celebrates a try, but the ball was lost forward and it won’t count.

TRY! Japan 3-21 England | Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 29'

07:29 , George Flood

29 mins: England are absolutely dominating now in Tokyo and are back up to the Japan try line in a flash.

Smith with a smart little double pump and delayed pass whipped out to Feyi-Waboso, who strolls in untouched from the right wing for try number three for the visitors.

A great conversion from Smith followed. England push their advantage out to 18 points.

A mountain to climb now for this inexperienced Japan team.

Japan 3-14 England

07:27 , George Flood

27 mins: An absolutely smoking tackle from Cunningham-South produces another spillage and puts England straight back in the ascendancy.

TRY! Japan 3-14 England | Marcus Smith 25'

07:23 , George Flood

25 mins: A brilliant set-piece move off the lineout from England!

It’s led by Lawrence and they are away with numbers pouring forward, Smith racing clear to touch down under the posts before adding another simple conversion.

Great try and England’s lead is up to 11 points in Tokyo.

Japan 3-7 England

07:22 , George Flood

23 mins: Tomoki Osada takes down Ollie Lawrence, but is then quickly penalised for not rolling away after the tackle - French referee Luc Ramos seems very hot on that so far today.England kick for the lineout and are off to the races!

Japan 3-7 England

07:20 , George Flood

21 mins: Another eye-catching attack off the back of the Japanese scrum, with Fijian-born right winger Jone Naikabula darting inside and making good yards before dropping the ball in contact.

It’s becoming tough to handle amid the sheer sweat running through the hands in these conditions.

England scrum.

Japan 3-7 England

07:18 , George Flood

Back underway in Tokyo after both sets of players take on some fluids in the hot and humid conditions.

Cunningham-South is back on his feet and able to continue.

England choose to kick and it goes out on the full, so we will come back for a Japan scrum.

Japan 3-7 England

07:17 , George Flood

A first England try for full Test debutant Chandler Cunningham-South.

A moment to remember for the Harlequins flanker.

Japan 3-7 England

07:14 , George Flood

19 mins: A frantic pace to this game now, with high-tempo Japan kicking poorly to George Furbank as England try to launch a swift counter-attack from deep inside their own half before their momentum is halted by a knock-on from Earl.

Early try-scorer Cunningham-South has now gone down and will need treatment.

Japan 3-7 England

07:13 , George Flood

17 mins: England are leaking too many penalties early on in Tokyo.

Japan look undeterred by that early setback and are quickly back on the attack.

TRY! Japan 3-7 England | Chandler Cunningham-South 13'

07:10 , George Flood

13 mins: England’s first attack of the game results in a try!

Some monster carries from their big ball carriers through the phases into the 22, with the irrepressible Earl heavily involved before, along with Underhill, hoping to drive over back-row colleague Cunningham-South, who touches down for a score on his full Test debut.

The try is swiftly awarded after a quick TMO check.

Marcus Smith adds an easy conversion. England off and running in Tokyo after a wobbly start.

Japan 3-0 England

07:07 , George Flood

12 mins: Penalty England at the scrum after an infringement from Japan tighthead Shuhei Takeuchi.

England kick to touch and are finally able to piece together their first promising attack on the edge of the Japan 22...

Japan 3-0 England

07:06 , George Flood

11 mins: More really nice pacey attacking play from Japan to trouble the England defence once more, but an unfortunate knock-on gives the visitors the put-in at another scrum.

Japan 3-0 England

07:03 , George Flood

10 mins: Another England mistake leads to a great kick into touch from Seungsin Lee.

Japan go to captain Leitch at the lineout, but the ball is quickly lost and England can hack clear.

England yet to retain any meaningful possession at all during these early stages in the Tokyo heat.

Japan 3-0 England

07:02 , George Flood

8 mins: Yes they can!

A vital pressure-relieving penalty won by England in front of their own line.

They also have a free-kick after a Japan error at the set-piece.

A booming kick doesn’t find touch and here come the Brave Blossoms again...

Japan 3-0 England

06:59 , George Flood

6 mins: We come back for one of those penalties, with Japan choosing to kick for the corner rather than going for another early three points.

Here comes the driving lineout maul.

Can England’s defence stand firm?

Japan 3-0 England

06:58 , George Flood

5 mins: This has been a really promising start from Japan - just what Eddie Jones will have wanted.

England’s much-talked-about blitz defence under Felix Jones is under serious pressure already, being stretched and pushed to the limit as Japan keep ball in hand and work their way to within metres of the try line.

Great tempo and running rugby from the Brave Blossoms, who have multiple penalty advantages.

Japan 3-0 England

06:57 , George Flood

4 mins: Almost the chance for a timely intercept for Henry Slade!

It’s not going England’s way early on though as Bevan Rodd is penalised at the first scrum of the day.

PENALTY! Japan 3-0 England | Seungsin Lee 3'

06:56 , George Flood

3 mins: A shaky start from England with full Test debutant Cunningham-South juggling the first ball.

Japan have an early lineout and Underhill is pinged for not rolling away at the breakdown.

It gives Seungsin Lee the chance to give the Brave Blossoms an early three-point lead from the tee, which he does.

Japan vs England

06:52 , George Flood

Luc Ramos of France is today’s match referee, supported by assistants Eoghan Cross and Angus Mabey plus TMO Eric Gauzins.

Japan fly-half Seungsin Lee kicks to get us underway in Tokyo!

Can England produce a commanding win to open their summer tour ahead of next month’s daunting two-Test series against the All Blacks in New Zealand?

It’s master vs apprentice as Eddie Jones faces Steve Borthwick. Here we go...

Japan vs England

06:49 , George Flood

A healthy crowd of around 44,000 is expected at the 70,000-capacity Japan National Stadium.

Time for the national anthems, with God Save The King up first.

Japan vs England

06:47 , George Flood

Here come the teams in Tokyo, led out by respective captains Michael Leitch and Jamie George.

England are in their navy blue change strips today, with Japan in their familiar red and white home kits.

Japan vs England

06:42 , George Flood

Final preparations in Tokyo. Kick-off is less than 10 minutes away now...

England lineup

06:41 , George Flood

A reminder of today’s England lineup in Tokyo.

George Ford and Ellis Genge are the headline injury absentees...

06:35 , George Flood

It looks like Steve Borthwick is no longer manning the lineout ladder during England’s pre-match preparations...

When they last met...

06:28 , George Flood

These two sides last met at the World Cup in the autumn, when England won a somewhat scrappy pool game 34-12 in Nice in September.

On that evening, Lewis Ludlam, Courtney Lawes, Freddie Steward and Joe Marchant - none of whom are involved today due to overseas moves, international retirement and non-selection - all ran in tries to go along with 14 points from the boot of George Ford, also absent from the summer tour with an Achilles injury.

It certainly wasn’t a classic at the Stade de Nice and England will hope for much more fluency today.

Here are the starting lineups from that day... so much change for both nations.

England: Steward; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Ford, Mitchell; Marler, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Chessum, Lawes, Earl, Ludlam

Japan: Masirewa; Matsushima, Osada, Nakamura, Naikabula; Matsuda, Nagare; Inagaki, Horie, Gu, Cornelsen, Fakatava, Leitch, Labuschagne, Himeno

Marcus Smith has golden England chance but long season takes toll

06:16 , George Flood

Marcus Smith will be buoyed by his biggest England chance yet against Japan on Saturday, only to be weighed down by his punishing 13-month season, writes Nick Purewal.

The Harlequins star has won first refusal on England’s No 10 shirt for the summer, selected ahead of Northampton’s Premiership champion and namesake Fin to face the Brave Blossoms in Tokyo.

The Smiths are England’s charming fly-half men on tour to Japan and New Zealand, with George Ford sidelined through Achilles trouble and Owen Farell’s 112-cap tenure at an end.

Quins’ Smith has waited his whole young career for an opportunity like this, an open invitation to make the England fly-half role his own.

That the 24-year-old must seize his moment on little more than fumes and adrenaline only serves to underscore rugby’s year-round folly.

Read the column in full here

Atmosphere building in Tokyo

06:08 , George Flood

A great atmosphere building ahead of today’s one-off Test in Tokyo, where England only played at the nearby Ajinomoto Stadium during the last World Cup.

They also played in Sapporo, Kobe, Oita and Yokohama during that memorable campaign.

06:03 , George Flood

Today’s venue looking resplendent in the Tokyo sunshine.

This is England’s first-ever official Test match against the Brave Blossoms on Japanese soil, with today’s game for the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup.

England previously toured Japan in both 1971 and 1979, both those matches did not hold Test status.

Japan also visited England in 1987, 2018 and 2022, while they will come to Twickenham again in the autumn.

England of course also made it to the final of the 2019 World Cup held in Japan, where they were agonisingly edged out by South Africa in a bruising final in Yokohama.

Numbers game doesn't favour Jones ahead of Borthwick grudge match

05:52 , George Flood

Eddie Jones has always been terrible with numbers; maybe that is why so few of his public statements add up, writes Standard Sport’s rugby correspondent Nick Purewal.

The vastly experienced Australian will launch his second stint with Japan today by sending a callow Brave Blossoms lineup into battle against England in Tokyo.

Jones will be itching to put one over his former protege Steve Borthwick, who succeeded him as England coach and then promptly torched his mentor’s legacy.

Borthwick will be every inch as eager to flex his coaching muscles against a man from whom he learned so much but would emulate only in part.

The master-apprentice narrative could prove compelling, but only if Jones’s inexperienced side can generate a true Test against England’s full-strength lineup.

Amid doubts whether that battle of coaching wills can stack up, several of Jones’s latest claims certainly do not.

Read the match preview in full

Hot and humid conditions in Tokyo set to test England

05:44 , George Flood

England have trained in some pretty heavy-looking rain this week, particularly during yesterday’s captain’s run at the National Stadium, but conditions are set to be very warm and humid indeed in Tokyo today.

The temperature is expected to reach around 30 degrees celsius for what is a 2:50pm kick-off local time.

How they adapt to such heat and humidity could be key to their hopes of delivering a commanding win to kick off their summer tour.

Eddie Jones delivers verdict on Steve Borthwick's England start

05:32 , George Flood

And what does Eddie Jones make of Twickenham successor Steve Borthwick’s 19-month spell in charge of England so far?

Borthwick previously cut his coaching teeth under Jones of course, working under his leadership with both Japan and England.

“I know that whatever I say to you will end up a headline,” Jones joked this week.

“I think it’s a very good team, an excellent team, with some great selections and I’m really pleased for the squad.

“Look, I think for a young guy he’s doing a great job.

“England’s a high-pressure job, with more scrutiny than probably any other job in the world.

“I think he’s handling that well, reassembling that team and bringing young players through.

“And I think he’s done a really, really good job.”

Eddie Jones: Young Japan team will push England all the way

05:16 , George Flood

Despite selecting such an inexperienced side today, Eddie Jones believes that Japan will take England right to the wire in Tokyo.

But he also engaged in the usual spot of pre-match mind games by claiming that his side were only a matter of days into their new cycle, while England have had three years to build theirs.

Neither time frame strictly rings true...

“We know England are strong, they made the top four in the World Cup,” said Jones.

“They have their traditional strengths, with their strong set-piece and kicking game.

“We are going to take England right to the last moment, I’ve got a really good feeling in my veins.

“We need to change Japanese rugby. We’ve gone for young players because that’s what we need at this time.

“England are three years into a cycle; we’re 10 days into a cycle. So, there’s a gap there.

“But we’ve got no excuse, we’ve prepared really well and we’re going to give it a red-hot go on Saturday.”

Japan vs England lineups

05:07 , George Flood

Japan XV: Yazaki; Naikabula, Riley, Osada, Nezuka; Lee, Saito; Mohara, Harada, Takeuchi; Waqa, Dearns; Leitch (c), Costley, Makisi

Replacements: Sakate, Miura, Tamefusa, Saumaki, Yamamoto, Fujiwara, Matsuda, Tua

England XV: Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman; M Smith, Mitchell; Rodd, George (c) Cole; Itoje, Martin; Cunningham-South, Underhill, Earl

Replacements: Dan, Marler, Stuart, Ewels, T Curry, Randall, F Smith, Roebuck

Japan vs England prediction

04:56 , George Flood

How England would love to get one over on old boss Eddie Jones today.

This is the first time they have come up against the outspoken Australian since he was sacked by RFU bosses following seven years in charge at Twickenham in December 2022.

After an improved Six Nations and impressive World Cup that busted all expectations that had sunk so low after such a woeful summer, England have to keep evolving and building under Steve Borthwick in another new cycle.

They are missing a lot of experience this summer both in terms of retired players, overseas absentees and injuries, but rugby challenges do not come much tougher than battling the All Blacks in New Zealand and it is essential they have the best possible preparations if they are to spring a shock in the Land of the Long White Cloud next month.

That starts with what has to be a commanding win over a very inexperienced Japan team beginning a new era with Jones back at the helm, provided they cope with what are expected to be extremely hot and humid conditions in Tokyo, where temperatures will be around 30 degrees celsius.

England to win by at least 15 points.

Japan team news

04:54 , George Flood

As he tried with pretty disastrous consequences during his short-lived return to Australia that culminated in their World Cup embarrassment and his subsequent resignation, Eddie Jones has gone for youth for the first match of his second stint in charge of Japan.

He wants to lead a new era of Japanese rugby, handing a shock start at full-back to 20-year-old Waseda University student Yoshitaka Yazaki - who has yet to even make his first-class debut in the sport.

It is a very inexperienced Brave Blossoms team lacking in caps who face a formidable task in Tokyo today, though Jones believes they have what it takes to push England all the way.

From their last game, the 39-27 defeat by Argentina in October that confirmed their pool-stage exit from the World Cup, only captain Michael Leitch, centre Dylan Riley and scrum-half Naoto Saito retain their starting places.

England team news

04:46 , George Flood

England hand a first Test start to Harlequins flanker Chandler Cunningham-South in a strong lineup in Tokyo today.

Marcus Smith has a huge chance to cement himself as Steve Borthwick’s starting fly-half in the continued absence of the France-bound Owen Farrell and the injured George Ford, partnering Alex Mitchell at 9.

Bevan Rodd earns a start in the front row next to captain Jamie George, while George Furbank keeps his place at full-back with no Freddie Steward in the matchday squad.

Tommy Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso are the wings, with Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade in the centres.

The evergreen Dan Cole earns his 113th England cap at tighthead, with George Martin joining Maro Itoje at lock.

The back row is completed by new vice-skipper Ben Earl and Sam Underhill.

Tom Roebuck is in line to make his Test debut from the bench, with Sale team-mate Tom Curry also set for his first England minutes since the World Cup after making his return from hip surgery that ruled him out of the Six Nations.

Harry Randall has the back-up scrum-half job over Ben Spencer, with Fin Smith covering for namesake Marcus.

Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart and Charlie Ewels are also on the bench.

How to watch England vs Japan

04:38 , George Flood

TV channel: Japan vs England will not be available to watch live on television in the UK, the first time in decades that a Red Rose international has not been broadcast on TV on these shores.

Live stream: However, the game is available to watch online via RugbyPass TV - World Rugby’s free online streaming platform.

Viewers will need to create an account before watching along either via their website or in the app, where you can cast to your TV via Chromecast or Airplay.

Highlights and a full replay will be available via RugbyPass TV, while highlights will also be shown on the official England Rugby YouTube channel later on.

Japan vs England live

04:35 , George Flood

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of Japan vs England.

Steve Borthwick’s side go up against former boss Eddie Jones for the first time in Tokyo this morning as they kick-off their 2024 summer tour with a one-off clash at the National Stadium, where very hot and humid conditions lie in store.

England will hope to continue some momentum after last year’s awful summer was followed by a surprise trip to the World Cup semi-finals and most improved Six Nations showing.

Most importantly they are preparing for a huge challenge in the form of next month’s two-Test tour against the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Kick-off today is at 6:50am BST, so stick with us for match build-up plus all the latest team news, lineups and live updates.