In a bold stroke, Eddie Jones, the head coach of Japan's rugby team, has revitalized his squad with six fresh faces for the upcoming showdown with Australia in Tokyo. Among the notable changes, veteran Michael Leitch is back, stepping into the number eight jersey for what promises to be a thrilling encounter this Saturday. This match marks a significant moment for Jones as he takes on Australia, a team he once coached, for the first time since his return to Japan.
Leitch, a seasoned warrior of Japanese rugby and former national team coach, is expected to bring his wealth of experience to the fore. Joining him in the loose forwards are Ben Gunter on the blindside and Kanji Shimokawa as openside flanker. The line-up also boasts a strong Australian connection with four players raised Down Under, including Dylan Riley and Jack Cornelsen who will start at outside centre and lock, respectively.
Adjustments in the backline see Yoshitaka Yazaki at full-back and Kippei Ishida on the right wing, shifting Tomoki Osada to the left. Shogo Nakano pairs up with Riley in midfield, while Lee Seung-sin continues as fly-half. The second-row features Cornelsen and team captain Warner Dearns, with Hayate Era, Shuhei Takeuchi, and Kenta Kobayashi forming the front row.
From the bench, South African Tyler Paul is poised to make his test debut, showcasing the depth and international flair of the Japanese squad. The bench strategy opts for a 5/3 split, providing robust support in both forwards and backs.
"I enjoy beating Australia – I coached against them 10 times for England and beat them nine times,"
Jones expressed his anticipation and competitive spirit ahead of the match. Despite the historical dominance of Australia in previous encounters, Japan's revamped squad under Jones looks to challenge this record and achieve a historic win.
Japan team to face Australia: - Fullback: Yoshitaka Yazaki - Right Wing: Kippei Ishida - Outside Centre: Dylan Riley - Inside Centre: Shogo Nakano - Left Wing: Tomoki Osada - Fly-Half: Lee Seung-sin - Scrum-Half: Shinobu Fujiwara - Number Eight: Michael Leitch - Openside Flanker: Kanji Shimokawa - Blindside Flanker: Ben Gunter - Locks: Warner Dearns, Jack Cornelsen - Front Row: Shuhei Takeuchi, Hayate Era, Kenta Kobayashi - Replacements: Kenji Sato, Ryosuke Iwaihara, Keijiro Tamefusa, Tyler Paul, Tiennan Costley, Kenta Fukuda, Charlie Lawrence, Sam Greene
The stage is set at Tokyo's National Stadium for an electrifying contest this Saturday. With kickoff at 14:50 local time, all eyes will be on this dynamic Japan team as they take on the formidable Wallabies.
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In a bold stroke, Eddie Jones, the head coach of Japan's rugby team, has revitalized his squad with six fresh faces for the upcoming showdown with Australia in Tokyo. Among the notable changes, veteran Michael Leitch is back, stepping into the number eight jersey for what promises to be a thrilling encounter this Saturday. This match marks a significant moment for Jones as he takes on Australia, a team he once coached, for the first time since his return to Japan.
Leitch, a seasoned warrior of Japanese rugby and former national team coach, is expected to bring his wealth of experience to the fore. Joining him in the loose forwards are Ben Gunter on the blindside and Kanji Shimokawa as openside flanker. The line-up also boasts a strong Australian connection with four players raised Down Under, including Dylan Riley and Jack Cornelsen who will start at outside centre and lock, respectively.
Adjustments in the backline see Yoshitaka Yazaki at full-back and Kippei Ishida on the right wing, shifting Tomoki Osada to the left. Shogo Nakano pairs up with Riley in midfield, while Lee Seung-sin continues as fly-half. The second-row features Cornelsen and team captain Warner Dearns, with Hayate Era, Shuhei Takeuchi, and Kenta Kobayashi forming the front row.
From the bench, South African Tyler Paul is poised to make his test debut, showcasing the depth and international flair of the Japanese squad. The bench strategy opts for a 5/3 split, providing robust support in both forwards and backs.
"I enjoy beating Australia – I coached against them 10 times for England and beat them nine times,"
Jones expressed his anticipation and competitive spirit ahead of the match. Despite the historical dominance of Australia in previous encounters, Japan's revamped squad under Jones looks to challenge this record and achieve a historic win.
Japan team to face Australia: - Fullback: Yoshitaka Yazaki - Right Wing: Kippei Ishida - Outside Centre: Dylan Riley - Inside Centre: Shogo Nakano - Left Wing: Tomoki Osada - Fly-Half: Lee Seung-sin - Scrum-Half: Shinobu Fujiwara - Number Eight: Michael Leitch - Openside Flanker: Kanji Shimokawa - Blindside Flanker: Ben Gunter - Locks: Warner Dearns, Jack Cornelsen - Front Row: Shuhei Takeuchi, Hayate Era, Kenta Kobayashi - Replacements: Kenji Sato, Ryosuke Iwaihara, Keijiro Tamefusa, Tyler Paul, Tiennan Costley, Kenta Fukuda, Charlie Lawrence, Sam Greene
The stage is set at Tokyo's National Stadium for an electrifying contest this Saturday. With kickoff at 14:50 local time, all eyes will be on this dynamic Japan team as they take on the formidable Wallabies.