Jones names side for S. Korea clash

FUKUOKA (May 7) – Japan coach Eddie Jones has named his side to take on South Korea at Level-5 Stadium on Saturday.

 

 
The starting XV shows four changes from the one that took the field against Hong Kong last week in Tokyo with a further four changes on the bench.

 
Hisateru Hirashima takes over from Masataka Mikami at loosehead prop, Kazuhiko Usami replaces Luke Thompson in the second row, while in the backs Kenki Fukuoka comes in for Akihito Yamada and Yoshikzau Fujita is promoted from the bench with Chihito Matsui away on sevens duty.

 
“This is the third game in our lead-up to the World Cup,” said Jones. “And as usual we have picked our strongest 23 for this game.”

 
“We’ve rewarded two of our youngest players – Usami and Murata – with starting caps because of the hard work they’ve put in and they’ve got a fantastic opportunity to press their claims for a spot in the World Cup squad.”

 
Hirashima lines up with Takeshi Kizu and captain Kensuke Hatakeyama in the front row, while Usami pairs up with Shoji Ito in the second row.

 
Justin Ives, Tsuyoshi Murata and Ryu Koliniasi Holani are once again named in the back row.

 
Atsushi Hiwasa and Harumichi Tatekawa line up at halfback with Yu Tamura and Karne Hesketh in the centres, and Fukuoka, Fujita and Ayumu Goromaru forming the back three.

 
“It’s been a long time since Kenki has played for us. He’s got his speed back, though he’s not 100 percent fully conditioned to play rugby. But we want to see where he is up to in relation to selection for the World Cup squad and it’s exciting to see him and Fujita on the left and right wing.”

 
Joining Thompson and Mikami on the bench are Hayden Hopgood and Toshiaki Hirose, who both featured last week, and the new quartet of Hiroki Yuhara, Hiroshi Yamashita, Yuki Yatomi and Ryohei Yamanaka.