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Japan coach Jamie Joseph says England's aerial bombardment won't bother his team

Incoming: Japan full-back Will Tupou can expect a busy afternoon
Incoming: Japan full-back Will Tupou can expect a busy afternoon

Japan coach Jamie Joseph is expecting an aerial bombardment from England at Twickenham tomorrow, but insists his team are up to it, despite having to give inches in height to the hosts.

The New Zealander has made eight changes, plus two positional swaps, from the team that was beaten 69-31 by a second string All Blacks in Tokyo two weeks ago, but has three survivors from the miracle match of 2015.

Then the Japanese, coached by Eddie Jones, stunned South Africa 34-32 and wing Akihito Yamada, scrum-half Fumiaki Tanake and captain Michael Leitch are still here to try and repeat the trick.

Yamada, who will be opposing Chris Ashton, and full-back Will Tupou, plus other wing Kenki Fukuoaka will take the brunt of the high balls and Joseph is confident they can handle it.

“Tupou is a good player and I think he deserves his chance,” said Joseph. “We tried Willie with the Sunwolves last year and he played particularly well. England pepper teams with their kicking game and he is very good under the high ball. He is physical and we are going to need physical guys this weekend.

“Some of our players are smaller, so we have to play our game differently because we have smaller men. We have an approach where we hope we can keep the game quick — but sometimes size doesn’t work for you.”

Contentious refereeing decisions have caused controversy in the opening two Tests at Twickenham, but Joseph has no worries about fellow Kiwi Paul Williams being cowed by an 82,000 crowd or an England team that are almost at unbackable odds.

“I know Paul from home, he is a New Zealander,” added Joseph. “He refereed the Sunwolves, against the Brumbies. He is a very good referee and he is on the up. I haven’t seen him for a while, but he will be fine.

“Every referee in big Test matches like this find it difficult at times, but the performances of his I have seen have been top notch which is why he has got the appointment. I don’t think he is a referee that is going to be intimidated by a tier one team.”