England vs Japan team news: Joe Cokanasiga handed debut as Eddie Jones makes 11 changes

George Ford captains the side as Jones rotates his squad for the third autumn international

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Jack de Menezes

Thursday 15 November 2018 12:34 GMT

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Eddie Jones and Steve Hansen praise England despite defeat to New Zealand

Eddie Jones has made 11 changes to his England side to face Japan, with Joe Cokanasiga handed his debut on the wing and George Ford set to captain the team in the absence of Dylan Hartley and Owen Farrell.

Bath wing Cokanasiga will make his first start for England on Saturday, with the Fiji-born back being handed the perfect birthday present on Thursday by being named in Jones’ squad that will take on his former side.

The 21-year-old is selected on the right wing which forces Chris Ashton in switching to the left wing, with Jonny May is rested, while Elliot Daly remains at full-back.

An all-new centre partnership sees Alex Lozowski link up with Jack Nowell, with Lozowski available once again after serving a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle on Glasgow Warriors’ Ruaridh Jackson last month.

England vs New Zealand player ratings

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1/30England vs New Zealand player ratings

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Ben Moon - 7 out of 10

Certainly strengthened England’s scrum from the get-go and looked comfortable at this level against seasoned opposition in Owen Franks. Replaced just shy of the hour by Alec Hepburn.

Action Images via Reuters

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Dylan Hartley - 7 out of 10

One overthrow on the first half but took the plaudits for the team shove-over try. Departed at half-time with a thumb injury, and England’s lineout completely malfunctioned without him as it went from 100 per cent completion to less than half.

REUTERS

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Kyle Sinckler - 7 out of 10

Another bone-crunching tackle, this week on Goodhue, set the tone for the defence although he was guilty of another first-half scrum infringement. Got sucked into the ‘big-player’ knack of seeing a smaller man and running at him, as Barrett impressively halted his barrelling run.

AFP/Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Maro Itoje - 7 out of 10

A much-improved disciplinary performance as he took on the duty of being England’s go-to man in the lineout. A defensive rock in the line and caused problems for Aaron Smith as he pressured the scrum-half.

EPA

England vs New Zealand player ratings

George Kruis - 6 out of 10

Struggled to make as much of an impact this week with his carrying, and the lineout misfunction in the second half is part of his responsibility as caller. Left the field with a knock in the 67th minute.

AFP/Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Brad Shields - 6 out of 10

Forced off early for an HIA that he returned from just before the break and showed a bit of niggle against his former teammates. Replaced permanently by Lawes with 15 minutes remaining.

PA

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Sam Underhill - 8 out of 10

Led the defensive charge with good line speed, but missed a tackle on Crotty in the seconds before McKenzie’s try. Kept England in the the hunt in the second half and secured a crucial turnover on England’s 5m line to prevent a try.

Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Mark Wilson - 7 out of 10

Phenomenal work rate in defence but facing New Zealand showed up his lack of ball carrying a bit more this weekend.

EPA

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Ben Youngs - 7 out of 10

Good awareness to spot Ashton unmarked and feed him with a lovely miss-pass for the first try. His best performance this season by far, but his poor chip into Read’s hands proved to be his last contribution as Danny Care came on.

AFP/Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Owen Farrell - 7 out of 10

Stripped Savea of the ball early on and pulled all the strings for his side. Smart move to the openside created the space for Ashton’s try before he added a drop-goal, and also dislodged the ball with his tackle on McKenzie when the full-back had rounded Daly. Only criticism can be the missed touchline conversion for Ashton’s score.

EPA

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Jonny May - 7 out of 10

Enjoyed one mazy run in the second half that reignited England’s fight as he came into the line off Farrell’s inside shoulder, and popped up across the park as he upped his usual work-rate.

Rex Features

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Ben Te’o - 6 out of 10

Eddie Jones warned that this would prove a much harder task for him and so it proved. Unable to make much impact with the ball in hand and caught out of position for McKenzie’s try.

AFP/Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Henry Slade - 7 out of 10

Displayed a few lovely touches that kept the All Blacks defence guessing, not least when he wrongfooted Goodhue in the first half before chipping in behind.

AFP/Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Chris Ashton - 7 out of 10

Given all the time he needed by smart play from the England back line to slide in for the opening try after two minutes. Faded thereafter as the All Blacks started to control possession, and replaced by Jack Nowell midway through the second half.

Action Images via Reuters

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Elliot Daly - 6 out of 10

Brilliant piece of play to keep a Barrett penalty kick in play. A much-improved performance under the high ball in testing conditions, though he did lose one early one with a knock-on.

PA

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Karl Tu'inukuafe - 7 out of 10

Stood up well against Sinckler and eked out a penalty in the opening 40 minutes, though didn’t make a great impact carrying-wise.

Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Codie Taylor - 7 out of 10

Strong work in the lineout and with a player like Dane Coles waiting on the bench, he needs to maintain his performance to keep his place in the side.

PA

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Owen Franks - 6 out of 10

Fairly quiet and wasn’t able to get at Moon as much as he would have hoped, resulting in his early departure in the 44th minute.

Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Sam Whitelock - 7 out of 10

Played a strong leadership role alongside Read and put in a solid shift with a full 80 minutes. Played a role in disrupting England’s lineout too.

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England vs New Zealand player ratings

Brodie Retallick - 8 out of 10

Dropped the kick-off to give England an immediate lift, but minute No 2 he was sublime and tore the England lineout to shreds in the second half with three steals as he got at Jamie George.

Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Liam Squire - 5 out of 10

Anonymous around the breakdown and carrying and while he defended well, it was far from his best performance.

AP

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Ardie Savea - 6 out of 10

Lost the ball when tackled by Farrell, but a strong turnover later in the first half made up for his mistake. Should have scored a try straight after the restart but that was more to do with Smith’s poor pass.

Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Kieran Read - 7 out of 10

Felt the power of Lawes when he was smashed on the try line by the England replacement seconds before McKenzie’s try, but made an impact of his own with a barrelling run that flattened Farrell.

AP

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Aaron Smith - 6 out of 10

Wasn’t given the time and space he craves as England did a good job of shutting him down, and it was his poor pass to Savea that butchered a certain try.

Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Beauden Barrett - 6 out of 10

Shaky start saw him fail to collect a high ball and kick rather erratically from hand. As the rain died down he grew into the game and created McKenzie’s try nicely, but then gave away a penalty late on that nearly cost New Zealand the game. In the end, it was his points that won the match, but it was very much a hit and miss display.

Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Rieko Ioane - 6 out of 10

Kept relatively quiet in the first half as England starved the All Blacks of ball, even more anonymous in the second half as England did a good job of putting the ball behind him.

AFP/Getty Images

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Sonny Bill Williams - 4 out of 10

His first chance to get his hands on the ball and take aim at the England defence didn’t come until the 18th minute, and the back-line was very much disjointed with him in it before injury forced his departure on the half-hour mark.

Action Images via Reuters

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Jack Goodhue - 5 out of 10

Got to know Sinckler a bit better than he’d have wanted to, and disappointed as he struggled to get on the ball.

Action Images via Reuters

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Ben Smith - 6 out of 10

One good break down the right in the first half and made a lovely second-half break through the midfield that went unrewarded when Savea dropped the ball with the line at his mercy.

AP

England vs New Zealand player ratings

Damian McKenzie - 6 out of 10

Peppered with high ball early on in the wet conditions. Hit into touch by Ashton to concede possession that led to the first try, but grew into the game and ran a smart line on Barrett’s shoulder to get the try before half-time. Guilty in the second half of kicking the ball straight into touch to invite pressure but cut a lovely line off Read’s offload, only to drop the ball in the tackle from Farrell.

AFP/Getty Images

Ford will lead the team from No 10 with Danny Care replacing Ben Youngs at scrum-half - the latter fully rested as Richard Wigglesworth is selected on the bench.

An all-new front-row sees Alec Hepburn return as loosehead prop, Jamie George replace Hartley at hooker and Harry Williams starting at tighthead, while Charlie Ewels joins Maro Itoje in the second row in the absence of George Kruis, who has been ruled out of the rest of the autumn with a calf injury.

The back-row meanwhile sees both positional and personnel changes, with Mark Wilson moving from No 8 to openside flanker to make room for Zach Mercer, who makes his first start, and Courtney Lawes returning to the side at blindside flanker.

“Japan is an important game for us as we want to get back to winning ways,” Jones said following last weekend’s 16-15 defeat by New Zealand. “We have also tested ourselves in having a shorter preparation. We gave the players two days off after three weeks of intensive work. We have had a short preparation but a good preparation.”

“This weekend is a good opportunity for us to test the depth of the squad. A number of players have changed their roles going from finishers to starters and starters to finishers so that is the essential change to the squad. It is exciting to be able to give starting opportunities to Zach Mercer and Joe Cokanasiga and young Ted Hill on the bench.”

George Ford captains the side on his 50th appearance (Getty)

Ford will lead the side in what will be a memorable day for the fly-half as he makes his 50th appearance for England. “It’s a wonderful moment for him and his family,” Jones added. “Fifty caps and captaining the side is a great honour and every game he plays for England he gives his absolute best.”

“We are expecting plenty of energy, aggression and fast ball movement. They will be full of surprises, quick taps, lineouts and plays. They are going to have a bag of magic.

“Last week the fans were absolutely exceptional in the atmosphere they created for the players. It was the best I have seen and we are looking forward to more of that on Saturday.”

England team to face Japan

Elliot Daly; Joe Cokanasiga, Jack Nowell, Alex Lozowski, Chris Ashton; George Ford, Danny Care; Alec Hepburn, Jamie George, Harry Williams; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Courtney Lawes, Mark Wilson, Zach Mercer.

Replacements: Dylan Hartley, Ben Moon, Kyle Sinckler, Ted Hill, Sam Underhill, Richard Wigglesworth, Owen Farrell, Henry Slade.

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