England have never lost a test to the United States, but head coach Eddie Jones said they will not let their guard down against the Americans in their World Cup clash in Kobe on Thursday night.

World No. 3 England are the highest-ranked team in Pool C and cannot afford to lose to the 13th-ranked Eagles ahead of pool-stage matches against Tier-1 opponents Argentina and France.

(Eddie Jones, the England head coach looks on during the England training session at the Kobe Misaki Stadium on September 25, 2019 in Kobe, Japan.)[Getty/Kyodo]

England have won all five of their previous encounters, three at the sport's showpiece event. England's most dominant win was a 106-8 rout in August 1999.

But Jones said he cannot guess what the U.S. team will bring to the table on Thursday at Kobe Misaki Stadium (Noevir Stadium).

His men will encounter the Eagles only four days after beating Tonga 35-3 in Sapporo. Like England, the United States are led by a former Top League coach, Gary Gold, who as former head coach of Kobe Kobelco Steelers will be making a homecoming in the western Japan city.

"We don't know what the USA are going to bring but they will be committed and play with a lot of pride," Jones said of their opponents, who will be playing their first pool game. "They have had a long time to prepare, are coached very well by Gary Gold."

Jones has made wholesale changes to his squad since their victory over Tonga, only keeping five of the starting XV that limited the 'Ikale Tahi to just one penalty.

(George Ford sprints during the England training session on September 25, 2019 in Kobe.)[Getty/Kyodo]

Regular captain Owen Farrell will be starting on the bench. In his place George Ford will lead the squad, which also includes prop Dan Cole, who will earn his 91st cap to equal Jonny Wilkinson for third in England's all-time list. Ben Youngs could join them at 91 if he comes off the bench.

Gold, for his part, said he cannot find a weakness in the England team and says the United States will take the pitch with an "underdog status."

(Gary Gold, the USA head coach looks on during the USA training session held at Kobe Misaki Stadium on September 25, 2019 in Kobe.)[Getty/Kyodo]  

"I think we do come into this game as quite the underdogs against a very well-equipped England team. What it does from our point of view is that it allows us an opportunity to hopefully show that we have improved, we hopefully can go toe-for-toe for a large part of the game even against England."

The Eagles' 23-man squad have eight players who belong to English clubs, while prop David Ainuu will become the second-youngest front-row starter in Rugby World Cup history at 19 years and 310 days.

The United States have never advanced to the knockout stage in eight World Cups and have not won a World Cup match since beating Russia 13-6 in 2011.

"It's been a long buildup for us and we are very excited to start against a very strong English team. I think the guys are really excited," Gold said.


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