No changes for Japan ahead of Italy clash

TOKYO (June 19) Japan coach Eddie Jones kept faith with the same 23 players that beat the United States last week when he named his side Thursday for Saturday’s clash with Italy at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

 

Japan will be looking to extend their record unbeaten run to 10 games but as Jones warned Italy are a tough side.

 

“This is the toughest game of the year for us,” Jones said. “It’s a real privilege to play Italy, who are a Six Nations country. Japan’s record is not impressive against them.  We have played them five times and lost five, so this is a fantastic opportunity to once again change Japanese rugby history.”

 

Shota Horie, Masataka Mikami and Kensuke Hatakeyama will be looking to repeat their good form of late in the front row with Shoji Ito and Luke Thompson named in the second row, due to their line-out skills.

 

Captain Michael Leitch, Justin Ives and Ryu Koliniasi Holani form an athletic and physical back row that will look to match Italy at the breakdown and pressure their halfbacks.

 

“Games against any Six Nations side are all about controlling the set piece,” said Jones. “Our preparation has revolved around that and I believe if we get the set right then there will be opportunities to trouble the Italian defence.”

 

Fumiaki Tanaka partners Harumichi Tatekawa at halfback, Male Sa’u and Yu Tamura line in the centres, with Kenki Fukuoka, Akihito Yamada and Ayumu Goromaru making up the back three.

 

The reserve bench once again sees the Brave Blossoms employ a 6:2 forwards, backs split.

 

Hisateru Hirashima, Takeshi Kizu and Hiroshi Yamashita cover the front row, Hitoshi Ono and Shinya Makabe the second row and Hendrik Tui the back row.

 

Atsushi Hiwasa is the reserve scrumhalf while former captain Toshiaki Hirose will cover the rest of the backs.