By Rich Freeman,
Japan take on Fiji this weekend in their final home game before heading to France for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with head coach Jamie Joseph playing a conservative hand and resisting the temptation, unless forced, to give any fringe players in his squad the chance to make a last-minute impression.
Joseph names his 33-man RWC squad on Aug. 15 and his side to take on the Flying Fijians in the final round of the Pacific Nations Series at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on Saturday includes just two players yet to appear this summer.
Pieter "Lappies" Labuschagne, who captained Japan in a couple of games at the 2019 World Cup, returns from a long-term injury on the flank, while lock Kanji Shimokawa is set to win his second cap off the bench as Joseph deals with a mini injury crisis among the forwards.
Locks Warner Dearns (ankle), Uwe Helu (shoulder), and back-row forwards Tevita Tatafu (hand) and Shota Fukui (cheek), all miss the game, as does Michael Leitch, who is suspended as a result of his red card against Samoa two weeks ago.
Following last week's win over Tonga, Joseph has made four changes to the starting XV. Labuschagne is joined in the pack by lock James Moore, while in the backs, Rikiya Matsuda is handed the No. 10 jersey and Kotaro Matsushima starts his 50th test match at full-back.
"I've not thought that far ahead (to the announcement of the RWC squad)," Labuschagne said Friday at the match venue. "My goal has been getting back on the field and I've been giving it my all the last couple of weeks to get a chance. For now, my focus is just tomorrow, pitching up on game day, doing what I can and just enjoying and expressing myself."
And for that to happen, the Brave Blossoms will need to cut out the mistakes, improve their discipline and play more of the "Japan Way" that has only been seen in glimpses the last few weeks.
"I think that the attack part is gradually coming together," said Matsushima, whose last-minute tackle saved Japan from a loss against Tonga.
"There have been a lot of personal knock-ons in the matches so far, so we need to try to minimize them as much as possible. It has been tough with the hot weather, but if we don't raise our standard, we won't be able to win at the World Cup."
Four years ago, Japan and Fiji met in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, prior to that year's World Cup, with the hosts running out 34-21 winners on a sweltering day.
"It will be tough, that's why the game is at 7 p.m. instead of now," Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi said Friday afternoon of the rematch. "The captain's run we just had was a walk-through because it is so hot. I think we are a different team from four years ago. We have prepared a lot differently and a lot better so hopefully it will be a much better result for us tomorrow."
Japan assistant coach Tony Brown, however, is hoping for more of the same.
"That game was a massive confidence boost (ahead of RWC 2019) so we plan to do the same, so we can go to (France) with a lot of confidence," he said.
But he is well aware of the task in front of his team.
"It's an exciting challenge. Fiji are the best team in the PNS, so this is a good chance to measure ourselves against them."
"We need to get better at limiting our mistakes. But I don't want us to stop moving the ball. To beat the best teams in the world we need to move the ball and play and pass faster."
"The players are feeling a bit of pressure to make the World Cup team. My job and Jamie's job is to take the pressure off the players and give them the belief they can beat anyone in the world."
"From a coach's point of view, having no fear when they play is when Japan plays best. So this is the ideal game against Fiji to bring out that mindset."
Related coverage:
Rugby: Brave Blossoms looking to show off their own brand of Fiji magic
Rugby: Newcomers, returnees forcing Joseph to make tough decisions
Rugby: 3-time World Cup scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka expects Japan to hit form
