LONDON — Tom Curry is set to make his comeback to the England rugby squad for the upcoming test match against Japan on Sunday, just two weeks after sustaining a head injury during a tackle against Australia. This marks Curry’s second major concussion of the season, having previously been sidelined during a club game for Sale in September. Over the past two years, he has now experienced a total of five concussions.

Amid increasing apprehension surrounding head injuries in rugby, England’s coaching staff have indicated they are implementing changes to Curry’s tackling technique to mitigate his risk of further concussions. Assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge emphasized that thorough care has been taken in Curry’s rehabilitation, stating that the flanker is now “100% fit, healthy and ready to go.”

Curry will be stepping in for Chandler Cunningham-South, while another adjustment sees George Furbank replacing Freddie Steward at the fullback position. Additionally, 20-year-old prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour is poised to make his senior team debut off the bench.

England faces a challenging situation, having suffered defeat in their last five tests — the team has not experienced a losing streak of six games since 2006 — yet they maintain an undefeated record against Japan. “We expect a tough competition against a team that excels in fast-paced play,” acknowledged England coach Steve Borthwick, who is under pressure to deliver results. “Japan poses a significant threat, so executing our game plan and maintaining concentration for the entire 80 minutes is crucial.”

The lineup for England includes: George Furbank, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme, Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, George Martin, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Jamie George (captain), and Ellis Genge. The reserves are: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Nick Isiekwe, Chandler Cunningham-South, Harry Randall, Fin Smith, and Tom Roebuck.