Labuschagne to Lead Japan Against Fiji

OTSUCHI, Japan, (July 25) – Japan coach Jamie Joseph named three new caps Thursday as his team get set to open their Pacific Nations Cup campaign against Fiji.
Pieter “Lappies” Labuschagne, James Moore and Yusuke Kizu were all included in the 23-man squad with Labuschagne named captain to allow Michael Leitch, who starts the game on the bench, to concentrate on his return to action following a long injury lay-off.
Labuschagne, who said “It’s a massive honour and privilege to play in the Brave Blossoms jersey representing a great country like Japan,” was named at openside flanker, Moore will line up at lock and Kizu will start the game at Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium on the bench.
Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie and Asaeli Ai Valu will line up in the front row with Moore linking up with veteran Luke Thompson in the engine room.
The back row sees Labuschagne play alongside blindside flanker Kazuki Himeno and No. 8 Amanaki Lelei Mafi.
In the backs, Kaito Shigeno and Yu Tamura will pair up at halfback, with Ryoto Nakamura and Timothy Lafaele picked in the centres.
The back three sees Kenki Fukuoka and Kotaro Matsushima on the wings and Will Tupou at fullback.
Atsushi Sakate, Shogo Miura and Kizu are the replacement front-row forwards with Wimpie van der Walt and Leitch the two other reserve forwards.
The replacement backs are Yutaka Nagare, Rikiya Matsuda and Lomano Lava Lemeki.
Japan’s two other games in the PNC see them take on Tonga in Osaka on Aug. 3 and the United States in Fiji a week later.