Joseph Names Side for Romania Clash

KUMAMOTO (June 8) – Shota Horie will lead a Japan team containing two new caps against Romania on Saturday after head coach Jamie Joseph named his side Thursday for the game at Egao Kenko Stadium.

With co-captain Harumichi Tatekawa ruled out by injury, Horie skippers the team from hooker with debutant Derek Carpenter handed the No. 12 jersey.

Yusuke Niwai will also make his first appearance for his country if he comes off the bench to replace Horie, who packs down in the front row between Koki Yamamoto and Takuma Asahara.

Kotaro Yatabe and Uwe Helu line up in the engine room while former Brave Blossoms captain Michael Leitch joins Amanaki Lelei Mafi and Yoshitaka Tokunaga in a powerful and athletic back row.

“I saw them push Georgia around, they have a very strong scrum,” Joseph said of the Romanian pack. “But when we get our scrum right we’re pretty good too.”

In the backs, Fumiaki Tanaka pairs up with Jumpei Ogura at halfback with Carpenter and Timothy Lafaele in the midfield and Kenki Fukuoka, Akihito Yamada and Ryuji Noguchi forming an exciting back three.

“I think he has got great potential,” Joseph said of Noguchi. “I really enjoy his confidence, skill and speed. Kotaro (Matsushima) has had a big workload recently with the Sunwolves so it gives him an opportunity to chase the bus.”

Joseph has plenty of experience to call upon on the bench with Keita Inagaki, Heiichiro Ito and Niwai the back-up front rowers, and Yuya Odo and Hendrik Tui the other reserve forwards.

Rugby World Cup 2015 members Yu Tamura and Matsushima join Keisuke Uchida as the replacement backs.

“Later on in the game both teams will be tired and we need players who can exploit space and opportunities,” Joseph said. “And Tamura and Matsushima are those types of guys.”