Leitch to lead Japan XV against Dragons

OSAKA (April 24) Michael Leitch will lead a Japan XV against the Asia Pacific Dragons on Saturday as Eddie Jones’ team warm up for the Asian 5 Nations.

The 25-year-old flanker skippers a side that contains a very experienced pack, in marked contrast to the back line, as Jones looks to give some of the younger members of the squad some playing in the absence of a number of senior players.

Leitch, Ryu Koliniasi Holani and Hendrik Tui form a physical back row with Hitoshi Ono and Shinya Makabe in the second row, as Jones looks to tackle the Dragons head on.

Yusuke Nagae and Takuma Asahara are named at prop with Takeshi Kizu at hooker.

The reserve forwards also have plenty of experience with Kensuke Hatakeyama joined by Hiroki Yuhara, Hisateru Hirashima, Justin Ives and youngster Kyosuke Horie.

The back line, by comparison, is untested at international level with two of the starters and two of the replacements yet to be capped.

Former captain Toshiaki Hirose shifts from the wing to flyhalf, where he will be partnered by Atsushi Hiwasa, as Jones looks at all possible options.

The five outside backs, meanwhile, have just 15 caps between them, with Ryoto Nakamura and Daishi Murata named in the centers, Kai Ishii and Akihito Yamada on the wings and Yoshikazu Fujita picked at fullback.

Keisuke Uchida, Yasuki Hayashi and Kotaro Matushima provide the back line cover on the bench.

The two sides will both train at Hanazono Stadium on Friday with Saturday's game set to kick off at 2 p.m.