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Japan coach Jamie Joseph made 4 modifications to his beginning XV and one positional swap Friday forward of the Courageous Blossoms’ second Rugby World Cup Pool D sport in opposition to England at Stade de Good on Sunday.
Captain Kazuki Himeno returns to guide the aspect from No. 8 with Jack Cornelsen shifting from the again row to the engine room. In the meantime, veteran Shota Horie will begin at hooker with Pieter “Lappies” Labuschagne coming in at flanker and the in-form Tomoki Osada changing Dylan Riley at outdoors middle.
“It is the most effective pack we will identify,” mentioned Joseph after the crew had a really brief and relaxed inspection of the match venue, having educated earlier within the day on the residence of the AS Monaco soccer membership.
“England are robust within the set piece and so they put us beneath strain there the final time we performed. They management the sport very effectively with their kicking sport and their set piece. We have to settle for the strain that’s coming and cope with it.”
Japan nationwide crew gamers are seen on Sept. 15, 2023, throughout a go to to the stadium in Good, France, the place they’ll face England in a Pool D match of the Rugby World Cup. (Kyodo)
England’s kicking sport was talked about on quite a few events, however Joseph is hopeful the again three of Jone Naikabula, Kotaro Matsushima and Semisi Masirewa won’t solely be capable to cope with the strain, but in addition profit from any free kicks to launch the Japan assault.
Himeno, who will type a combative and cell again row alongside Labuschagne and Michael Leitch, missed the opening sport in opposition to Chile and is eager to get his World Cup off to a profitable begin.
“We’re one hundred pc ready,” Himeno mentioned. “This week I’ve used the phrase ‘courageous’ when speaking about management, and I need to lead the crew that approach. It is essential now we have the braveness to play with out concern.”
Each groups opened their campaigns with wins — England 27-10 over Argentina and Japan 42-12 over Chile — so the winners of Sunday’s sport might be within the driver’s seat of a gaggle that additionally contains Samoa.
The sport might be performed at a floor that reminded many at Friday’s inspection of the stadium in Brighton the place the Courageous Blossoms famously beat South Africa in 2015, together with one of many heroes of that sport Ayumu Goromaru, who’s right here in a media position.
Leitch mentioned he had been reminded of Japan’s well-known win when watching Uruguay play so valiantly in opposition to France the night time earlier than.
“Our crew has modified massively since then and we’re up in opposition to among the finest groups on the planet,” he mentioned. “However I am trying ahead to creating a brand new historical past for the Japan crew.”
Beginning XV
Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie, Gu Ji Gained; Jack Cornelsen, Amato Fakatava, Michael Leitch, Pieter “Lappies” Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno; Yutaka Nagare, Rikiya Matsuda; Jone Naikabula, Ryoto Nakamura, Tomoki Osada, Kotaro Matsushima, Semisi Masirewa
Replacements
Atsushi Sakate, Craig Millar, Asaeli Ai Valu; Warner Dearns, Kanji Shimokawa; Naoto Saito, Dylan Riley, Lomano Lava Lemeki
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