England tour of Japan: Alex Dombrandt on Test series preparation

England number eight Alex Dombrandt says he and his team-mates have gone to some “dark places” to prepare for the heat and humidity of Tokyo this weekend.

Steve Borthwick’s side face Eddie Jones’ Japan on Saturday in the first of three summer Test matches before a two-Test series in New Zealand.

Dombrandt, 27, says training has been tailored for the Tokyo conditions, with high temperatures and humidity levels expected in the coming days.

“In those tough times and dark places you rally together as a squad,” the Harlequins player told BBC Sport.

“[We did] some tough fitness sessions on the Watt Bike and rower, but they scattered some heaters around it so you are in a furnace type of thing, to replicate the heat and humidity.

“We know that is preparing us for what is to come in Japan.”

Japan will be coached by former England boss Jones, who faces off against England for the first time since leaving Twickenham at the end of 2022.

“Eddie Jones is obviously a great coach who will prepare that team extremely well,” added Dombrandt, who won the first of his 17 caps under Jones against Canada in 2021.

“They are going to have a really good team and we know we are going to have to be at our best to get the result we want.”