Marcus Smith handed No 10 shirt by Steve Borthwick for Test against Japan in absence of George Ford and Owen Farrell… as England coach looks to seize initiative against Eddie Jones by announcing line-up early

Marcus Smith has been put back into the England No.10 shirt for the Test against Japan on Saturday as Steve Borthwick has boldly gone early with his selection for the tour opener.

In an unprecedented move, the national coach has chosen to announce his line-up 48 hours before the usual time on Thursday, ahead of the match on Saturday. It’s a ploy that has seen Borthwick seize the initiative in the Japanese capital ahead of a meeting with Eddie Jones – the famed mind-games master who is preparing to start his second spell in charge the Brave Blossoms.

The expectation was that the Australian would dominate the agenda leading into the showdown with his former side, but he is still in Miyazaki in the far south and will be blindsided by this positive statement of intent from Borthwick. England’s decision to raise their hands so quickly shows their belief that they have the quality to launch their three-Test crusade on Saturday with victory at the Olympic Stadium.

Their confidence appears well-placed with Borthwick having assembled a formidable team for this Far East assignment, despite the enforced absences of veterans George Ford, Elliot Daly and Ellis Genge, and recent stalwart Ollie Chessum.

That quartet has been replaced by Marcus Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Bevan Rodd and Chandler Cunningham-South in the four starting changes in England’s last outing against France in Lyon three months ago.

Steve Borthwick has put his faith in the Harlequins star, who leaves behind his namesake Fin Smith

Much has been made of the fly-half choice ahead of the tour, with Owen Farrell having moved to France and George Ford ruled out of the mission due to an Achilles tendon problem. The fact that those veteran offensive leaders are out of the picture — even if only temporarily, in Ford’s case — has opened the door to a Smith, but the question was which one. Borthwick have opted for Marcus, the 25-year-old Harlequin with 32 caps, over the 22-year-old Saint with two.

The fact that Finn Smith orchestrated Northampton’s victory to the Premier League title added to the sense of an enigma for Borthwick, especially as he spoke so enthusiastically about the rookie’s supreme authority at such a young age. The presence of fellow Saints Alex Mitchell, George Furbank and Tommy Freeman in the England XV further improved his prospects – in the quest for early fluency and cohesion – but Marcus Smith has won the vote.

It is a crucial vote of support for the prodigious talent that Jones had tried to build a backline around, in a playmaker alliance with Farrell. He has shone in seductive outbursts but now has a golden opportunity to take control without a senior figure looking over his shoulder.

This clash with Japan is a momentous occasion for England rugby’s talented poster boy as he strives to realize his enormous potential. He will have to wield the baton with conviction to ensure he and his team head to New Zealand next month for tests in Dunedin and Auckland with the fortified belief of a convincing performance here. The time has come for the popular box office apprentice to become the master as he reaches the peak stage of his career.

Yet there are intrigues that go well beyond the number 10 position. The back row was another area of ​​uncertainty and debate given Chessum’s disruptive absence. Cunningham-South is preferred blindside as a lineout jumping option. The Kent-born, New Zealand-raised flanker will look to mark his first Test start with the kind of explosive ball-carrying that was astonishing to see when he led the attack in Quins’ epic victory in Bordeaux in April.

As expected, Sam Underhill and Ben Earl complete the back row, with George Martin continuing his lock partnership with Maro Itoje. Captain Jamie George and Dan Cole will once again give England experience and solidity in the front row, where Rodd has been preferred at loosehead. The Sale prop has been outstanding in the closing stages of the domestic season, offering dazzling skills in open play and improved scrummaging prowess.

Smith gets a huge opportunity to stake his claim as Owen Farrell (centre) has moved to France and George Ford (right) has been ruled out of this mission due to an Achilles problem

England are set to take on a Japanese side coached by former player Eddie Jones

Another notable selection is that of Tom Curry, who was expected to miss the entire season after the World Cup due to a ‘car accident’ or a hip injury that required complex surgery. But the Sale winger made his club comeback in the Premier League play-offs and is now set for a Test return from the bench on Saturday. There is a possibility he will resume his ‘Kamikaze Kids’ pairing with Underhill that characterized England’s impressive 2019 World Cup campaign in Japan.

Apart from the significant change at the age of 10, the other backline adjustment only concerns the recovery of Exeter wing Feyi-Waboso, who missed the match in France due to concussion. The electric runner and prolific finisher deserves his recall having made such an impact in the Six Nations, with a try against Scotland and a key role in the shock win over Ireland. On the bench, Sale’s uncapped wing Tom Roebuck is ready for his international debut.

Borthwick has opted for a five-three split of substitutions and has plenty of firepower throughout the 23rd matchday despite not having a single leading man. The renewed line-up seems to have a powerful mix of experience and youth, pace and power. Borthwick’s decision to name early is a bullish act of optimism that appears well-founded.

At his training base, 700 miles from Tokyo, Jones has been misled by his former assistant. Even the master of mind games will struggle to regain the initiative. And he will struggle to stop this England team from spoiling the launch of his new regime.

ENGLAND: G Furbank (Northampton); I Feyi-Waboso (Exeter), H Slade (Exeter), O Lawrence (Bath), T Freeman (Northampton); M Smith (Harlequins), A Mitchell (Northampton); B Rodd (Sale), J George (Saracens. Captain), D Cole (Leicester); M Itoje (Saracens), G Martin (Leicester); C Cunningham-South (Harlequins), B Earl (Saracens), S Underhill (Bath).

Replacements: T Dan (Saracens), J Marler (Harlequins), W Stuart (Bath), C Ewels (Bath), T Curry (Sale), H Randall (Bristol), F Smith (Northampton), T Roebuck (Sale).