By Rich Freeman,
Japan coach Jamie Joseph made six changes and two positional switches to his starting XV in naming his team Thursday for the Brave Blossoms' second-round Pacific Nations Series game against Tonga on Saturday at Osaka's Hanazono Rugby Stadium.
Kazuki Himeno, who celebrated his 29th birthday Thursday, will lead the side, despite Atsushi Sakate starting at hooker, and moves to the base of the scrum from the flank in the absence of Michael Leitch, who was shown a red card in the 30th minute of last week's 24-22 defeat by Samoa in Sapporo.
World Rugby announced Thursday that Leitch had initially been handed a three-match ban. However, the former Japan captain has said he will apply to take part in the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme aimed at "modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play."
This would "substitute the final match of the sanction," meaning he would be available for the Brave Blossoms' last Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Italy on Aug. 26.
In the forwards, Asaeli Ai Valu comes in at tighthead prop, lock Uwe Helu is promoted from the bench, and Ben Gunter is named at open-side flanker.
In the backs, Naoto Saito starts at scrumhalf, Tomoki Osada makes his first start for his country at inside center, Semisi Masirewa returns on the left wing, while Jone Naikabula switches to the right.
The introduction of Osada, who has made a major impact off the bench in recent weeks, was, Joseph said, the result of the other centers not performing to potential.
"I'm not overly happy with the performance of our midfield," Joseph said. "Osada showed last week he can handle the pressure of test-match rugby and deserves his chance."
Gunter, meanwhile, returns from a lengthy injury layoff knowing there are only so many back-row forwards that can make the trip to France for the World Cup, which kicks off for Japan on Sept. 10 against Chile in Toulouse.
"He played very well (last year) against France and can play all three back-row positions," Joseph said of the 25-year-old Thai-born, Australia-raised Gunter, who moved to Japan when he was 18.
Gunter has missed a lot of rugby since the games against Les Bleus through injury, and Joseph admitted, "We need to see if he can play test-match rugby in a short period of time."
Japan and Tonga have met 18 times, with the spoils shared at nine wins apiece. Their last meeting was at the same venue on Aug. 3, 2019, when the Brave Blossoms won 41-7.
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Starting XV
Keita Inagaki, Atsushi Sakate, Asaeli Ai Valu; Amato Fakatava, Uwe Helu; Jack Cornelsen, Ben Gunter, Kazuki Himeno (c); Naoto Saito, Lee Seung Sin; Semisi Masirewa, Tomoki Osada, Dylan Riley, Jone Naikabula, Ryohei Yamanaka.
Replacements
Shota Horie, Craig Millar, Gu Ji Won; James Moore, Tevita Tatafu; Yutaka Nagare, Rikiya Matsuda, Kotaro Matsushima.
Related coverage:
ANALYSIS: Japan rugby seemingly in stagnation mode ahead of RWC2023
Rugby: Disappointing 14-man Japan fall to Samoa
Rugby: Leitch set for special indoor homecoming in Sapporo
