Canada and Japan close
Canada play Japan in Sendai on Sunday, the 20th meeting between the two countries.
They are close historically and on the IRB rankings. Canada are ranked 13th, Japan 14th,
The first time Japan played rugby outside of Japan was in 1930 when they hopped across the ocean to British Colombia. The first time they played a Test was in 1932, against Canada in Tokyo. The record of the Tests is close - 9 wins for Japan, eight wins for Canada and a draw at the 2007 World Cup when a miraculous ending saved the game for Japan.
Now Japan are eager to develop their rugby experience and also to prepare for the Asian 5 Nations early next year, which they hope to win, thereby qualifying for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. They will play Canada twice within a week.
There are no new caps in the Canadian 22, three in Japan's side.
Canada has the advantage of a battle-hardened front row who are against a young Japanese front row. The most capped Canadian is a prop - Kevin Tkachuk with his 50 test appearances, Next to him is the captain Pat Riordan and on his right Dan Pletch who has 23 caps. Against them the Japanese front row of Naoki Kawamata, Shota Horie and Kensuke Hatakeyama has a total of 11 caps.
Canadian No. 8 Aaron Carpenter comes break after breaking an arm in Canada's big win over the USA in their World Cup qualifier. Flyhalf Ander Monro is back in Canada after playing rugby in Scotland, England and Italy - back and involved.
Japan coach John Kirwan believes that this Japan side is the best the country has ever had. Apart from No.8 and captain Ryu Koliniasi Holani, who has gone home to Tonga for his mother's funeral, Kirwan believes this the strongest side he could have picked.
He has three new caps in the side - 23-year-old hooker Shota Horie, New Zealand lock Daniel Quate and Tongan wing Alisi Tupuailei who is a Sevens international.
At flyhalf one New Zealander outdoes another as Shaun Webb is preferred to James Arlidge at flyhalf. Arlidge these days plays for the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Teams
Canada: 15 James Pritchard, 14 Ciaran Hearn, 13 Matt Evans, Bryn Keys, 11 Justin Mensah-Coker, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Phil Mack, 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Adam Kleeberger, 6 Chauncey O'Toole, 5 Tyler Hotson, 4 Josh Jackson, 3 Dan Pletch, 2 Pat Riordan Captain, 1 Kevin Tkachuk (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)
Replacements: 16 Mike Pletch, 17 Doug Wooldridge, 18 Jebb Sinclair, 19 Nanyak Dala, 20 Sean White, 21 Sean Duke, 22 Nathan Hirayama
Coaches: Kieran Crowley, John Tait
Japan : 15 Go Aruga, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Shaun Webb, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka/Tomoki Yoshida, 8 Takashi Kikutani (captain), 7 Phil O’Reilly, 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Naoki Kawamata.
Replacements: 16 , 17 , 18 Daniel Quate, 19 Shinya Makabe, 20 Tomoki Yoshida/Yuki Yatomi, 21 James Arlidge, 22 Alisi Tupuailei
Coach: John Kirwan
Date: 15 November 2009
Kick-off: 14.00 (local time)
Venue: Yurtec Stadium, Sendai
Expected weather conditions: 20% chance of rain with a high of 15°C dropping to 7°C and a southwester of 21 km/h.
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan)
Assessor: Scott Young (Australia)