Wholesale changes for Japan and All Blacks XV
PREVIEW: Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has revealed his Brave Blossoms team to take on the All Blacks XV this Saturday at Kenko Stadium in Kumamot.
The match will be the second of two non-capped matches in July.
Following the heavy defeat suffered by the Japan XV last weekend, Joseph has made 13 changes to the team that went down 6-38 in the first match in Tokyo. This includes six new players who have been brought into the team to provide more starch in defence and spark a more effective attack.
This week sees the continuation in the naming of two co-captains, with No.8 Kazuki Himeno and replacement hooker, Atsushi Sakate both assuming the responsibilities. In the front row, Kieta Inagaki comes into the team at tighthead, alongside Jiwon Gu who packs down at loosehead, after having started last week from the reserves bench. At hooker, 68-test veteran Shota Horie also moves from the bench to assume the starting rake position.
The second row remains unchanged with James Moore and the uncapped Amato Fakatava retaining their starting positions. In the back row, the impressive Shota Fukui retains his position at No.7, while Jack Cornelsen, who started last week on the pine, slots in at No.6 to replace Michael Leitch who moves to the bench. Co-captain, Kazuki Himeno also moves from the bench into No.8 to anchor the back of the scrum.
In the backs, Naoto Saito remains at scrumhalf, while young playmaker, Seungsin Lee comes into the side at No.10. In the centres there is one change, with the experienced Ryoto Nakamura coming into the team at inside centre, alongside the hard running Dylan Riley who retains his position at outside centre. The back three remains the same as last week with Semisi Masirewa and Jone Naikabula on the left and right wings respectively, and Kotaro Matsushima slotting in at fullback.
On the reserves bench, co-captain Sakate starts the match from the bench at reserve hooker, while Craig Miller moves from starting tighthead to the bench, alongside reserve prop, Asaeli Ai Valu, who comes into the matchday 23. The versatile Uwe Helu, who covers both lock and the back-row moves into the team, while 78-cap veteran, Michael Leitch moves from the blindside flank to the bench.
Yutaka Nagare retains his reserve halfback position alongside the uncapped Tomoki Osada as the reserve wing, while Rikiya Matsuda, who started last week at No.10 moves to the reserves bench.
Meanwhile, All Blacks XV head coach Leon MacDonald has named a strong matchday squad for the clash.
Following the win against Japan XV last Saturday, MacDonald has made seven changes to the team anticipating an intense match in Kumamoto.
"The Brave Blossoms have shown they’re a top-tier team filled with capped players. We need to build on our performance last week, we're going up against a full-strength national side. They will be hungry for a win and we need to match that."
The starting front row features loosehead prop Aidan Ross, tighthead prop Jermaine Ainsley and George Bell at hooker. Three Chiefs players make up the reserves with Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris and George Dyer.
The strong locking combination of Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Quinten Strange return, with Akira Ioane, Billy Harmon (co-captain) and Pita Gus-Sowakula making up the loose forward trio. Cameron Suafoa and Christian Lio-Wille will provide impact off the bench.
In the backs, experienced All Blacks capped players Brad Weber (co-captain) and Stephen Perofeta will take the field at nine and ten, alongside Jack Goodhue and Billy Proctor in the mid-field at 12 and 13. Folau Fakatava will provide impact off the bench.
The back three will see Jona Nareki on the left wing, AJ Lam on the right wing and Ruben Love starting at fullback. With Alex Nankivell and Sam Gilbert named to be injected off the bench.
Teams:
Japan: 15 Kotaro Matsushima, 14 Jone Naikabula, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Semisi Masirewa, 10 Seungsin Lee, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Shota Fukui, 6 Jack Cornelsen, 5 Amato Fakatava, 4 James Moore, 3 Jiwon Gu, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki,
Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Valu, 19 Uwe Helu, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Yutaka Nagare, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Tomoki Osada.
New Zealand XV: 15 Ruben Love, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Brad Weber (co-captain), 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Billy Harmon (co-captain), 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 George Bell, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 George Dyer, 19 Cameron Suafoa, 20 Christian Lio-Willie, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Alex Nankivell, 23 Sam Gilbert.
Date: Saturday, July 15
Venue: Kenko Stadium, Kumamoto
Kick-off: 18.05 (21.05 NZ time; 09.05 GMT)
Referee: Tual Trainini (France)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)