The rookie prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour is in line for an England debut towards Japan on Sunday, with Steve Borthwick anticipated handy the 20-year-old a spot on the bench.
Opoku-Fordjour was solely referred to as into Borthwick’s squad when Joe Marler introduced his worldwide retirement after the defeat by New Zealand earlier this month however caught the attention in final week’s England A victory over Australia on the Stoop. Previous to that match, Borthwick stated, “I’ve been actually constructive about what I’ve seen from Asher,” and the Guardian understands that Opoku-Fordjour is within the body for a spot among the many replacements on Sunday as Eddie Jones locks horns along with his former employers at Twickenham for the primary time.
Borthwick is believed to be weighing up a handful of adjustments after 5 defeats on the spin and three in a row this autumn. Tom Curry is out there once more after recovering from a concussion whereas the pinnacle coach can be understood to be considering a shock place on the bench for an additional would-be debutant Cadan Murley, who scored two tries towards Australia A final week. The Harlequins wing was referred to as up with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso nonetheless nursing a concussion and Elliot Daly withdrawing from the squad by means of damage however is alleged to have impressed the teaching workers this week. Borthwick is because of formally title his staff on Friday afternoon.
Opoku-Fordjour was part of the England under-20s aspect who gained the junior World Cup over the summer season, beating France within the remaining, on the again of a dominant scrum. Borthwick bemoaned England’s scrummaging issues after the summer season tour of Japan and New Zealand however alongside Opoku-Fordjour, the tighthead props Afo Fasogbon and Billy Sella have additionally proven promise.
The Sale teen was the primary of that cohort to be referred to as into the senior squad, nonetheless, and can be the primary to win a cap if he makes the matchday squad and takes to the sector on Sunday. He has the uncommon potential to play on each side of the scrum and whereas Sale see him as a tighthead, England imagine his future lies at loosehead. With Marler retired, a debut for Opoku-Fordjour might signify an extra altering of the guard in what could also be Dan Cole’s 118th and remaining look for England.
Earlier this week Cole issued a staunch defence of Borthwick, who insisted after final weekend’s defeat by South Africa he has the “absolute assist” of his employers on the Rugby Soccer Union. On his For The Love Of Rugby podcast, Cole stated: “Sure, he’s the appropriate man for the job. We’ve misplaced, is it 5 now on the bounce? But it surely’s like … we’ve performed New Zealand twice away, France away, South Africa at dwelling. Sure, we must always have overwhelmed Australia, that’s in all probability the one huge anomaly.”
