Overview
- Les Kiss announced a 23‑man matchday squad for the test against Japan that gives starting debuts to Miles Amatosero and Aidan Ross and moves several forwards to the bench.
- The coach kept rookie Declan Meredith at flyhalf with Ben Donaldson named among the replacements to see how Meredith handles Test running and decision making.
- Hunter Paisami starts in midfield after Len Ikitau was ruled out with an ankle injury and uncapped centre Isaac Henry is on the bench and in line to earn his first cap.
- Josh Nasser has been cleared to start at hooker after recovering from concussion, and Charlie Cale is back on the bench in line to play his first Test since 2024.
- Kiss has deliberately stacked the bench with mobile, high‑impact forwards to cope with Osaka's heat and to evaluate combinations and bench impact as part of a pragmatic 2027 World Cup build.