Dombrandt: England's Journey to Dark Places.

England's Alex Dombrandt, the number eight player, revealed that he and his fellow team members have delved into intense training sessions to acclimate themselves to the scorching heat and humidity of Tokyo this weekend. 

He described their preparation as venturing into "dark places," signifying the depth of their commitment and the challenges they've willingly embraced in their pursuit of success on the field.

Steve Borthwick's team is gearing up to clash with Eddie Jones' Japan this Saturday in the opening match of a series of three summer Test matches, followed by a two-Test series in New Zealand.

Dombrandt, aged 27, highlighted that their training regimen has been specifically adjusted to suit the demanding conditions anticipated in Tokyo, where soaring temperatures and high humidity levels are on the horizon.

"In those challenging moments and intense training sessions, we unite as a team," remarked Dombrandt, the Harlequins' player, during an interview with BBC Sport.

"We've been through some challenging fitness sessions on the Watt Bike and rower. They even placed heaters around us, creating a furnace-like environment to mimic the heat and humidity we expect in Japan.

"This preparation is getting us ready for what we'll face there."

Eddie Jones, the former England coach, will lead Japan, marking his first encounter with England since leaving Twickenham in 2022.

"Eddie Jones is a fantastic coach who will undoubtedly prepare his team exceptionally well," remarked Dombrandt, who earned his first of 17 caps under Jones against Canada in 2021.

"They'll field a strong team, and we know we must be at our peak to achieve the outcome we desire."