DAN BIGGAR: England should keep changes to a minimum for Japan… but here are five new faces who have the chance to make a big statement against Eddie Jones’ men
I was very impressed by England’s performance in their 45-22 hammering of Australia.
The result has teed them up very nicely for their next three November Tests. Steve Borthwick’s side will have too much for Japan on Saturday.
But what’s really interesting about that game now is that as coach, Borthwick will have to make a number of changes due to injuries. I’m sure he would have wanted to keep them to a minimum, to maintain consistency and cohesion after what was an excellent display.
But sometimes in international rugby, your best-laid plans are thrown up in the air and that’s what’s happened to England this week. Here’s my guide to five men in Borthwick’s squad who, if given a chance, could make a big statement against Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms…
Fraser Dingwall (centre)
I played with ‘Dingers’ at Northampton. His biggest strength is linking players together.
As an inside centre, he’s really good at feeding information into the fly-half. I know that first hand as that’s exactly how he helped me when we were team-mates.
Fraser Dingwall has proved to be the glue holding this exciting England team together
The fact he has the Northampton connection with the likes of Fin Smith and Tommy Freeman means I’d be surprised if he didn’t start against Japan in place of the injured Seb Atkinson.
I thought Atkinson went well in the Australia win, so it’s unfortunate he’s got a hip knock. Dingwall is a really solid player with good skills. Borthwick has called him a ‘glue’ player and that’s spot on.
Don’t forget, he was excellent in England’s win over New Zealand last autumn so has a proven past record of delivering in big games when the pressure is high.
Noah Caluori (wing)
England will be devastated Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been ruled out of the autumn with the ankle problem he suffered last week.
It’s a huge blow as Feyi-Waboso has a point of difference to him with his game-breaking carrying. I’d bring Caluori in for him this weekend. The Saracens man is a different sort of player.
Calouri has emerged as one of England’s brightest prospects
He made his full debut against Fiji in the summer. But like Feyi-Waboso, he has a real strength and in Caluori’s case, it’s his aerial ability – combined with his pace and enthusiasm.
If Caluori plays, England can design specific kicking strategies around him. Japan have small wingers, so Caluori should have the beating of them. If he plays, he needs the ball early.
Max Ojomoh (centre)
The Bath man only has two caps, but he was brilliant for England A last Friday. He was player of the match on his last England cap but hasn’t been seen since.
It will either be him or Dingwall at No12. Ojomoh is maybe not as consistent, but he does have big X Factor attacking moments in him. Good examples would be his breakaway try and kick assist for Feyi-Waboso to score against Argentina last November.
There is no doubt Ojomoh is a brilliant player. However, while I might be wrong, I’d be surprised if it wasn’t Dingwall who gets the nod.
Ojomoh looked solid against Australia but will find it hard to replace Dingwall at centre
Archie McParland (scrum-half)
He was a young academy player when I was at Northampton. He’s grown really impressively, now rivalling Alex Mitchell for club and country. McParland’s game is all about speed.
He’s still a young player and maybe doesn’t challenge the line as much as others. Not yet, anyway. But he gets the ball away so quickly. McParland is still uncapped, so I think Japan would be the perfect opportunity for him to make his debut now he’s recovered from a calf injury.
Jack van Poortvliet played well at No9 against Australia, making the most of Mitchell’s latest hamstring injury.
If I were Borthwick, I’d go for McParland to back him up from the bench this weekend. His new Northampton contract is a reflection of how highly he’s rated.
Speed demon Archie McParland will be hoping to make his England debut against Japan
Max Hicks (back-row/lock)
He’s emerged from nowhere after only joining Newcastle Red Bulls from Perpignan in the summer.
New Zealand born, he’s a really athletic back-five forward. England have gone down the route of playing a big No6 who can add to the line-out and be a danger in the wide channels.
Ollie Chessum has been the star in that position and Borthwick will be praying he can be fit for New Zealand. Injuries to Chessum and full-back George Furbank from Australia have dampened the mood.
Hicks has been one of PREM Rugby’s top operators this season, despite playing in a struggling team. Borthwick isn’t the sort of coach to pluck players from obscurity, so the fact he’s done that with Hicks feels significant. He may end up being a World Cup bolter.
Despite the Newcastle Red Bulls having a tough season Hicks continues to stand out and may very well be in Borthwick’s plans for the World Cup
Overall verdict
The only changes I think England should make for Japan are the ones that will have to be enforced by injury.
There was so much positivity about the way England attacked against Australia, that bringing in a whole host of new faces would risk disrupting the confidence and continuity they’ve generated.
That always used to happen in the Wales teams I played in if we made lots of changes. England are in a great position to build confidence on the back of Australia, so they can then go into the All Blacks game riding high. That will be their biggest November game by far.
Watch Dan Biggar and Ronan O’Gara discuss all the big Nations Championship talking points on The Debrief, in association with Allianz, on Sunday on ITV1 at 11.15pm and on ITVX
