Joseph Names Side for Georgia Test

TBILISI (Nov 11) – Japan coach Jamie Joseph has named the side to take on Georgia on Saturday at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium.

There are six changes to the side that started last week’s loss to Argentina in Tokyo, with a further five changes on the bench.

Shunsuke Nunomaki will win his first cap at openside flanker, while hooker Takeshi Hino and prop Yasuo Yamaji will also make their international debuts if they come off the bench.

In the front row, Heiichiro Ito comes in at tighthead prop and will pack down with Satoshi Nakatani and hooker Shota Horie.

Kotaro Yatabe is also promoted from the bench and will link up in the engine room row with Kyosuke Kajikawa.

The back row sees Nunomaki in the No. 7 jersey with Malgene Ilaua at blindside flanker and Amanaki Lelei Mafi at No. 8.

There are two changes in the backline with Timothy Lafaele starting at outside centre and Karne Hesketh on the left wing.

Fumiaki Tanaka and Yu Tamura line up at 9 and 10, respectively, with Harumichi Tatekawa at inside center.

Karne Hesketh is joined in the back three by Lomano Lava Lemeki and fullback Kotaro Matsushima.

Masataka Mikami, Hino and Yamaji provide the cover for the front row with Samuela Anise and Uwe Helu (who both started last week) the replacements for the back five in the scrum.

Joseph has opted for a 5-3 split on the bench as opposed to the 6-2 split in operation last week.

Keisuke Uchida is the replacement scrumhalf, with Amanaki Lotoahea and Kenki Fukuoka the other reserve backs.