England kicked off their autumn with a statement win over Australia, but it came at a cost because several players picked up injuries.
Steve Borthwick will need to make at least four changes to his starting team to take on Japan in their next Nations Championship match on Saturday as Seb Atkinson, Ollie Chessum, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and George Furbank have all been ruled out. So who should he pick? Telegraph Sport’s rugby experts turn selectors…
Unleash Pollock from the off
F Steward; T Freeman, W Joseph, M Ojomoh, N Caluori; F Smith, J van Poortvliet; E Genge, L Cowan-Dickie, W Stuart, M Itoje, G Martin, A Coles, H Pollock, B Earl.
Replacements: T Dan, F Baxter, J Heyes, A Clark, M Hicks, G Fisilau, A McParland, M Smith.
How much fun can you have with a team selection without sacrificing all cohesion? Injuries to Feyi-Waboso, Furbank and Atkinson already mean the back line needs to be ripped up, so in come a delicious-looking midfield partnership of Max Ojomoh and Will Joseph, who are in as good a form as any centres in the Prem.
Freddie Steward has also been outstanding for Leicester and would form a back three with Tommy Freeman and Noah Caluori, who could dominate the aerial contest against Japan.
I will swap the front rows over en masse but Theo Dan needs to get some minutes at some point as hooker so he replaces Jamie George on the bench. If you do not give Henry Pollock a start this week, then when do you unleash him? There is more fun on the bench in the form of debutants Max Hicks and Archie McParland.
A new-look midfield
F Steward; T Freeman, W Joseph, M Ojomoh, C Murley; F Smith, J van Poortvliet; F Baxter, J George, W Stuart, M Itoje, G Martin, A Coles, H Pollock, B Earl.
Replacements: T Dan, E Genge, J Heyes, A Clark, T Pearson, G Fisilau, A McParland, M Smith.
There may have been the temptation to give starts to the likes of Dan and Greg Fisilau against, with full respect, lesser opposition, but the number of enforced changes demands a level of consistency from last week for balance.
I would rest Henry Slade and Joe Heyes for New Zealand; they are important. Joseph can show whether he has what it takes at Test level, outside Ojomoh, in for the injured Atkinson. And the drop-off from Heyes to Will Stuart is minimal.
The injured Furbank was excellent last weekend but Steward has been playing better than ever with Leicester. Henry Pollock comes in at openside in place of Ben Curry while George Martin replaces Chessum; Alex Coles practically played blindside last weekend. On the wing, bar his debut, Cadan Murley has quietly and steadily impressed each time he has worn an England jersey.
Give Marchant a go on the wing
F Steward; T Freeman, H Slade, M Ojomoh, J Marchant; F Smith, J van Poortvliet; F Baxter, L Cowan-Dickie, J Heyes, M Itoje, A Coles, T Pearson, B Curry, B Earl.
Replacements: E Genge, T Dan, W Stuart, G Martin, H Pollock, B Spencer, M Smith, N Caluori.
There is a slightly experimental feel to the back line to compensate for recent injuries in a match that England will be expected to win. Max Ojomoh was sublime for England A last week and is the most viable candidate to fill in at inside centre. With the World Cup less than a year away, Borthwick is already placing significant value on positional versatility and that is why I would like to see Joe Marchant given a go on the wing.
I have opted for minimal change among the pack, except at hooker, where there is a need to consolidate a third-choice hooker. There is a chance for Henry Pollock to enjoy another outing on the wing, should there be scope to deploy him again in the position.