England vs Japan team announcement: Eddie Jones builds on promise to ‘smash’ his former side

Re-live Eddie Jones' press conference after he named his side to face Japan

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

Eddie Jones has promised England fans has something “special” to look forward to when Bath’s 21-year-old winger Joe Cokanasiga makes his debut against Japan on Saturday in their third Autumn Internationals match.

England have made 11 changes from the side that narrowly lost to New Zealand and Jones built on the promise he made at the weekend to “smash” the team he coached in the 2015 World Cup.

“We want to play really well because we don't get too many opportunities to play as England, so we want to be ruthless and play every minute like it's the last one,” Jones said.

“You always look back fondly on teams and players that you've coached but you move on. Our job on Saturday is to play the best 80 minutes of November.”

Fiji-born back Cokanasiga received the perfect birthday present by being named in the England team on Thursday for the first time and Jones believes his physical strengths can benefit the side. “He's excited. He's quite a shy boy but we're starting to see his character come out. He's got something very special. Pace and power.” Re-live the whole of Jones' live press conference below:

Key Points

• England vs Japan kicks off at 3:00pm 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.

[15 November 2018 12:38 · Jack de Menezes]

George Ford on returning to the side:

I'm massively excited for it. Even in the last couple of week I haven't had a lot of game time but my involvement in the week has not been too different to this week.

[15 November 2018 12:39 · Jack de Menezes]

Shorter week:

It was nice to have a break, we've been in camp for two or three weeks. But coming back in you've got to be sharp.

[15 November 2018 12:40 · Jack de Menezes]

On having sushi for dinner on Tuesday:

Yeah it wasd good. At the team meeting everyone got a set of chopsticks but I don't think many were used.

[15 November 2018 12:40 · Jack de Menezes]

Preparations:

From 12 months ago we're preparaing for the World Cup, so we're doing little bits and pieces to be prepared for that.

[15 November 2018 12:41 · Jack de Menezes]

On Japan:

They've done well, they're a good team and they play very much in the Highlanders way of playing. They kick the ball a lot so our back three is going to get a lot of work.

[15 November 2018 12:43 · Jack de Menezes]

George Ford on starting:

I don't see the difference between starting and finishing, we're a squad of 23.

[15 November 2018 12:43 · Jack de Menezes]

Ford on Cap No 50:

When you get your first cap for England it's an unbelievable honour, you never expect to get one.

[15 November 2018 12:44 · Jack de Menezes]

On Ted Hill:

He's a very calm boy, physically e's very well put together. He reminds me of Reuben Thorne. But he's got a lot of work to do and we've decided to blood him this week. What's impressed us a lot if that for a young boy who's played two Premiership games he wasn't over-awed by any of it.

[15 November 2018 12:45 · Jack de Menezes]

Relationship with Japan:

That doesn't come into it. You always look back fondly on teams and players that you've coached but you move on. Our job on Saturday is to play the best 80 minutes of November.

[15 November 2018 12:48 · Jack de Menezes]

On this weekend:

We want to play really well because we don't get too many opportunities to play as England, so we want to be ruthless and play every minute lke it's the last one.