Japan make 2 changes for Romania test
TOKYO (Nov. 13) – Japan coach Eddie Jones named his side Thursday for Saturday’s test against Romania in Bucharest.
Masataka Mikami and Shoji Ito are the only changes from the Japan XV that started last week’s narrow loss to the Maori All Blacks in Tokyo, while three players who were not involved in the non-cap internationals are added to the bench.
Mikami replaces Keita Inagaki, who will win his first cap if he comes off the bench, while Ito comes in for Luke Thompson, who is being rested ahead of the test against Georgia on Nov. 23.
In addition to Inagaki, there are two new caps in the starting XV in Amanaki Lelei Mafi and Karne Hesketh, both of whom impressed against the Maori.
“We have selected our strongest available team and are expecting a very physical game,” said Jones.
Mikami lines up with Takeshi Kizu and Kensuke Hatakeyama in the front row, with Ito and Shinya Makabe in the engine room.
Mafi forms an athletic and physical back row alongside captain Michael Leitch and Hendrik Tui.
With Yu Tamura still not fully recovered from the knock he took in the first game against the Maori, Jones has opted to play the same backs that started last week’s game.
Atsushi Hiwasa and Kosei Ono line up at halfback with Male Sa’u and Kotaro Matsushima in the centres and Hesketh, Akihito Yamada and Ayumu Goromaru in the back three.
“Tamura is still not 100 percent so Kosei retains his place at 10 and the rest of the backline, which performed performed very well against the Maoris, is the same.”
On the bench, Yuki Yatomi is brought back to the international fold for the first time since 2009. He joins Hiroshi Yamashita and Toshiaki Hirose, who both sat out the games against the Maori. Inagaki, Hiroki Yuhara, Hitoshi Ono, Hayden Hopgood and Harumichi Tatekawa make up the rest of the replacements.
“We are looking forward to playing some good high tempo rugby with a strong set piece,” said Jones.
Japan head into the games against Romania and Georgia unbeaten in 10 tests, a streak that has seen them rise to an all time high of ninth in the world rankings.
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