Ludlum, Sinckler and Marler in for England against Japan

NICE, France - England have brought in Lewis Ludlum to replace suspended flanker Tom Curry against Japan in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday, with props Kyle Sinckler and Joe Marler also starting in a team showing three changes from the Argentina Pool D opener.

Ludlam comes in at number eight, with Ben Earl moving to the openside flank in place of Curry, who is banned for this game and the next against Chile after his red card in Saturday's 27-10 victory over Argentina. The backline is unchanged.

In the team named on Friday, Billy Vunipola, free to play having served a two-match suspension, is among the replacements, where Ben Youngs takes over from Danny Care as scrumhalf cover for Alex Mitchell.

Victory for England would give them one foot firmly in the quarter-finals while for Japan defeat will leave them battling it out with Argentina and Samoa for the other slot.

England team:

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps)

14. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 74 caps)

13. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 20 caps)

12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 54 caps)

11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 60 caps)

10. George Ford – vice-captain (Sale Sharks, 86 caps)

9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)

1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 83 caps)

2. Jamie George (Saracens, 80 caps)

3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 63 caps)

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 71 caps)

5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 12 caps)

6. Courtney Lawes – captain (Northampton Saints, 101 caps)

7. Ben Earl (Saracens, 19 caps)

8. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 22 caps)

Replacements:

16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 4 caps)

17. Ellis Genge – vice-captain (Bristol Bears, 53 caps)

18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)

19. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 4 caps)

20. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 70 caps)

21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 124 caps)

22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 25 caps)

23. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 15 caps) REUTERS