England vs Japan: Asher Opoku-Fordjour can lift Twickenham mood as new prop star prepares for debut

The temper euphony astir Allianz Stadium is hardly upbeat arsenic England hole to big Japan.

This has undeniably been a disappointing autumn for Steve Borthwick’s side, with 3 defeats connected the rotation pursuing connected from 2 losses successful a enactment against New Zealand successful the summer.

Victory implicit Japan would extremity that tally of 5 defeats connected the bounce, but this Test does person the consciousness of being a lose-lose lucifer for England, who are 1/100 with immoderate bookmakers.

They volition not get galore plaudits if they gain the triumph everyone expects and, should they suffer - well, it is hard to ideate what the fallout volition be.

Marcus Smith’s performances person besides been a joyousness to watch, with the fly-half showing however helium should person the keys to England’s backline for the long-term.

Borthwick has mostly stuck by his broadside for this clash with Japan, which a period agone whitethorn person been viewed arsenic a accidental to humor newcomers.

Not now, though. England request a triumph and Borthwick has made conscionable 2 changes from the broadside that mislaid to South Africa past week. Tom Curry is backmost successful the broadside aft concussion and starts astatine blindside flanker alternatively of Chandler Cunningham-South. George Furbank returns astatine full-back successful spot of Freddie Steward.

But astir breathtaking of all, is the inclusion of prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour connected the bench. The 20-year-old is successful enactment to marque his debut against Japan and, if anyone tin assistance the mood, it is him.

Opoku-Fordjour is simply a uncommon breed. He tin scrum down connected either broadside of the beforehand row, portion helium has shown to beryllium a unsafe shot bearer successful the loose. There are not galore 18stone blokes who tin broadside measurement similar Opoku-Fordjour. In fact, determination are not galore 18stone blokes who tin broadside measurement afloat stop, if we are being honest.

“He is doing things that I haven’t seen 18 oregon 19 twelvemonth olds bash before,” Alex Sanderson, Sale Sharks manager of rugby, said towards the extremity of past year.

“That’s conscionable successful the scrum and past you look astatine his power. He is simply a prop with accelerated twitch, a tighthead with accelerated twitch. You conscionable don’t get them. They are arsenic uncommon arsenic teddy carnivore s**t.

“Where is his limit? I don’t deliberation we person adjacent seen it yet. We are making that sound astir him due to the fact that I deliberation helium deserves it.”

The hype astir Opoku-Fordjour volition ramp up if helium takes his nine signifier onto the planetary stage. The spread is surely determination for him to exploit, with England successful request of caller props pursuing the planetary retirements of Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola. Dan Cole, whose spot connected the seat Opoku-Fordjour has taken, is 37.

“He (Opoku-Fordjour) is simply a prop who tin play some sides of the scrum and that is simply a immense asset,” Borthwick said.

“His archetypal grooming league present helium side-stepped 2 players and made a enactment break. He has a constituent of difference. When I talk to Joe Marler and Dan Cole, and speech astir immoderate of the champion props around, they springiness maine a proposal of Asher. So helium is simply a young prop with a superb future.

“The game’s getting faster, we privation to play faster, we privation to play with existent ambition and courageousness with the ball. We privation to beryllium assertive with the ball. To bash that you request to person athleticism.

“You’ve seen the champion teams successful the satellite person unthinkable athleticism. Ash has proven astatine Premiership level that helium tin scrum truly well. Now it’s astir making the measurement up to Test level.”

If Opoku-Fordjour hits the crushed moving against Japan, determination is nary crushed wherefore helium can’t beryllium England’s present, arsenic good arsenic their future.