Fin Baxter has yet to be on the winning side in five appearances for England (Joe Giddens/PA) (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Fin Baxter is gearing up for Sunday’s showdown with Eddie Jones’ Japan, targeting a first win for while aiming to close the autumn on a high.
Despite England being cast as heavy favourites against the world’s 13th-ranked team, they’re looking to snap a disheartening five-Test losing streak, having suffered defeats to New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa earlier at Twickenham this month.
The 22-year-old prop has earned his stripes during this challenging period, his five caps coinciding with England’s bleakest run since 2018.
Yet, he finds value in these tough times, saying: “We’re desperate to win and put in a performance to finish it off, but we’re not underestimating Japan by any stretch.
“I’ve been thinking that if I can enjoy myself with things being as they are right now, when results are not going our way and the games are so close that it’s gutting, then when we win it will be incredible.
“I’ve actually enjoyed this time and when we go one step further it’s going to be pretty cool.”
This period of trial has exposed England’s vulnerability, especially their struggle to notch points in the critical final quarter of matches.
Baxter reflected: “We’ve been saying that you don’t learn the things we’ve been learning without actually going through these scenarios. We have more tools now.
“My biggest takeaway from this autumn has been that you can always affect the play, especially being a heavy tight five forward.
“And how the simpleness of the game is almost ramped up. As long as you run hard, hit hard and carry hard – everything gets ramped up.
Fin Baxter is England’s second choice loosehead at the age of 22 (Mike Egerton/PA) (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
“The off-the-ball work is the biggest difference to playing in the Premiership. In the Premiership if you’re not sprinting into position, you’ll probably be OK.
“Here if you’re not set and not jumping off the line as fast as you can, and therefore you’re not making a dominant hit, there’s a difference.”
Baxter is pushing hard to start against Japan after making all three of his appearances this autumn off the bench. Head coach Steve Borthwick names his team on Friday afternoon.