Late change for England as Jack Nowell drops out

England have been forced into a late change for their Autumn Nations Series game versus Japan as winger Jack Nowell has been withdrawn with injury before the pre-game warm-up at Twickenham. His place on the right wing has gone to Joe Cokanasiga, last week’s starting left wing who had lost his place to face the Japanese to the fit-again Jonny May.

An RFU update read: “Jack Nowell has withdrawn from the England squad who will face Japan today due to an abdominal wall injury. Joe Cokanasiga will replace him in the England XV on at right wing.”

Vice-captain Nowell was set to win his 44th cap but instead a reprieve has been handed to Cokanasiga, one of five players who started last Sunday’s defeat to Argentina who were omitted at Thursday’s latest team naming.

The exclusion of Cokanasiga was of three backline changes by Jones, who also included Jack van Poortvliet in place of the benched Ben Youngs and summer tour midfielder Guy Porter at outside centre with Manu Tuilagi dropping to the bench.

An update on today's squad for #ENGvJPN ? pic.twitter.com/isqHiFRhZu

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 12, 2022