Ludlum, Sinckler and Marler in for England against Japan

NICE, France :England coach Steve Borthwick has kept the same backline for Sunday's World Cup clash with Japan but brought in Lewis Ludlum to replace suspended flanker Tom Curry and changed both props as Kyle Sinckler and Joe Marler start.

Borthwick was never likely to make radical changes from the team who did so well to beat Argentina 27-10 in their opener while playing with 14 men for 77 minutes, especially for a potentially tricky fixture against Japan, where victory would all but secure their place in the quarter-finals.

Tough-tackling Ludlam looked a bundle of energy as he somehow squeezed in 12 tackles in his 15 minutes off the bench on Saturday and comes in at number eight.

Ben Earl moves to the openside flank in place of Curry, who is banned for this game and the next against Chile after his red card on Saturday.

In the team named on Friday, Billy Vunipola, the only specialist number eight in the World Cup squad and free to play having served a two-match ban, is among the replacements, where Ben Youngs replaces Danny Care as scrumhalf cover for Alex Mitchell.

Sinckler has recovered from a chest injury to take over at tighthead while Marler, given a huge roar of welcome by the England fans in Marseille, makes only his second start since the 2020 Six Nations having slipped out of favour under Eddie Jones.

"After another good week’s preparation in Le Touquet we are looking forward to the challenge of playing a Japan side that will be full of confidence following their comprehensive win over Chile," Borthwick said.

Sunday's game will be the fourth full-cap international between the teams, England having won the previous three handsomely, including a 52-13 Twickenham thrashing last November when Japan's scrum was found