England respond to Eddie Jones mind games ahead of Japan match in Nations Championship
England scrum coach Tom Harrison denied his side will be distracted by their upcoming game against New Zealand ahead of facing Eddie Jones' Japan on Saturday at Twickenham; Cadan Murley looking to play his "best rugby" and hold down place in starting line-up
Friday 13 November 2026 15:28, UK
England have hit back at Eddie Jones' claim they could be vulnerable to an upset by Japan on Saturday because they have one eye on their upcoming game with New Zealand.
Jones is aiming to disrupt Steve Borthwick's side by hitting them with the unexpected in the belief they will be "a little bit distracted" by the All Blacks' visit to Allianz Stadium on November 21.
New Zealand are the box-office fixture of the campaign ahead of finals weekend but England deny they are looking beyond Japan.
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"That's nowhere near the case because we understand how important this game is," scrum coach Tom Harrison said.
"We understand the challenge Japan can throw at us and we have to be alive in every single moment to the type of rugby they play.
"We understand that there might be unorthodox things coming our way but our need is to be alive.
"I've never worked with Eddie but I've met him a few times and he's a rugby genius, the way he thinks about the game and the way the players talk about him."
Murley: My best rugby will get me in the mix
Cadan Murley wins his eighth cap but first at Twickenham after coming in for the injured Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the left wing as one of 10 changes made for Japan.
Murley, Max Ojomoh and Will Joseph are aiming to make an impression on Borthwick after the head coach signalled that places in next year's World Cup squad are up for grabs.
"I just want go out there and play my best rugby," Murley said. "I'll focus on what I can do, control the controllables, and hopefully that will get me in the mix further down the line.
"But my sole focus is on this game and putting my best foot forward. It's my first game at Twickenham and that's what's on my mind at the moment."
England team to face Japan in Nations Championship
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Will Joseph, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 George Ford, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 George Martin, 6 Alex Coles, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Henry Pollock.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Arthur Clark, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Greg Fisilau, 22 Archie McParland, 23 Marcus Smith.
