Squad named for PNC opener
TOKYO (May 23) – Japan coach Eddie Jones named what he said was his strongest side given the circumstances ahead of Saturday’s Pacific Nations Cup opener with Tonga.
Shota Horie, Michael Leitch and Fumiaki Tanaka are all unavailable due to their Super Rugby commitments, though Leitch is expected to return for the game against Fiji on June 1 and Horie and Tanaka in time for the first test against Wales a week later.
Even so, Jones said he believes the hard work put in by the squad over the last few weeks will help them once the game gets underway at Yokohama’s Mitsuzawa Stadium.
“Over the last five or six years the results between the two countries have been pretty tight and I don’t imagine Saturday will be any different,” Jones said. “But I back our ability to play at the high tempo we want over the last 20 minutes based on the hard work we have put in.”
Masataka Mikami, Takeshi Kizu and Hiroshi Yamashita line up in the front row with Jones saying the trio were the best scrummagers Japan had.
“We will need Yamashita’s weight early on in the tight and Kizu is a big guy who really came on during the Asian Five Nations.”
Hitoshi Ono and Shinya Makabe are named at lock with captain Takashi Kikutani, Michael Broadhurst and Hendrik Tui in the back row.
“That’s our best back row,” Jones said. “Broadhurst played really well in the Asian 5 Nations, Tui is back into some form and Kikutani keeps on getting better.”
Atsushi Hiwasa and Kosei Ono line up at halfback, with Harumichi Tatekawa and Male Sa’u in the centers.
Hirotoki Onozawa and Yoshikazu Fujita are named on the wings with Ayumu Goromaru at fullback.
Onozawa, who will join Yukio Motoki as the most capped Japanese player of all time (with 79) when he takes to the field, was singled out for particular praise by Jones.
“It’s a fantastic achievement and he really deserves it. He’s worked hard throughout his career.”
Jones named a 5-3 split on the bench with Yusuke Aoki, Takuma Asahara and Kensuke Hatakeyama providing the front row cover.
Shoji Ito and Ryuta Yasui are the other two forwards among the replacements with Keisuke Uchida the backup scrumhalf, Yu Tamura the replacement utility back and Kenki Fukuoka the reserve speedster.
