Brave Blossoms Team Announced for Do or Die Argentina Match
Brave Blossoms Head Coach, Jamie Joseph has today named his side for Japan’s must-win Group D clash against Argentina, this Sunday, 8 October at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes. With England qualifying in first place after having topped the pool, Japan and Argentina, who both sit on nine points each, with two wins from three matches, will fight it out for the last remaining Quarter Final spot.
Japan will face an Argentine side ranked ninth in the world and with significant World Cup finals experience. Like Japan, Argentina have played at all nine previous World Cups, but Los Pumas have reached the Quarter Finals at four previous tournaments, progressing as far as fourth place at England 2015 and third place in France, back in 2007.
Japan on the other hand will be looking to make history by reaching the final-eight for just the second time, having also made the Quarter Finals for the first time ever, at their home World Cup in 2019.
Following their 28-22 win over Samoa last weekend in Toulouse, Joseph has made a number of changes to his matchday 23, with three new players coming into the side that sees one change in the starting backline, and three changes to the reserves bench.
In the front-row, loosehead prop, Keita Inagaki once again packs down opposite Jiwon Gu at tighthead, with the veteran, Shota Horie at hooker. On the bench, reserve rake, Atsushi Sakate is joined by Craig Millar and Asaeli Valu as the reserve props.
The second-row sees the ever-reliable Jack Cornelsen packing down alongside the impressive Amato Fakatava, while the towering Warner Dearns is once again on the bench as one of two reserve locks. Joining Dearns is Amanaki Saumaki who is set to earn his third cap for Japan after having made his debut against Italy last month and playing in Japan’s opening RWC match against Chile. Listed as a reserve lock, his inclusion later in the match could see either Fakatava or Cornelsen move into the backrow, with both starting locks equally comfortable playing as loose forwards.
Japan has again named the powerful and experienced backrow combination of Michael Leitch and Pieter ‘Lappies’ Labuschagne as the blindside and openside flanks, while Captain Kazuki Himeno anchors the scrum at number-eight. Playing in his fourth World Cup and celebrating his 35th birthday the day before the match, the indominable Michael Leitch is currently sitting in overall third place for the number of tackles made across the tournament.
Halfback, Naoto Saito starts once again in the absence of Yutake Nagare, slotting in alongside established playmaker, Rikiya Matsuda at number ten. In the midfield, Ryoto Nakamura retains his starting role at inside-centre, with the hard-running Dylan Riley at outside-centre.
The outside backs sees one change with Siosaia Fifita coming onto the left-wing for his Rugby World Cup Debut at the expense of Jone Naikabula who moves to the reserves bench. Kotaro Matsushima covers the left-wing while the versatile Lomano Lemeki slots in at fullback.
Young halfback, Kenta Fukuda who was a late replacement last weekend for the injured Nagare, retains his position as reserve halfback in just his second test match for Japan. He is joined on the bench by specialist fullback, Ryohei Yamanaka who makes his RWC2023 debut having joined the squad following the England match as a replacement for the injured Semisi Masirewa.
Commenting on the Brave Blossoms’ team selection, Japan Head Coach Jamie Joseph said:
“The players are in really good condition, both mentally and physically. We’ve had an up and down season, but I feel that we’re starting to play some of our best rugby at the right time.
“We’ve spoken about as a team that if we can get into a position where we’re in a final, which for us, and Argentina is on the weekend, then we’re halfway there. We just have to play 80 minutes of rugby and ensure we play as best we can and play our style of rugby. We’ve been preparing for this game for the last three years, so we’re really looking forward to it.”
With a 13:00 local kick-off in France on Sunday afternoon, fans will be able to enjoy a 20:00 local Japan time kick-off in Japan. The match will be broadcast live, nationwide on Nippon TV, Hulu, TVer and J Sports One. It will also be available for streaming and catch-up through J Sports On Demand.
TEAM LIST
| No. | Name | Team | Height | Weight | Date of Birth | Caps |
| 1 | Keita INAGAKI | SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS | 186 | 116 | 1990/6/2 | 52 |
| 2 | Shota HORIE | SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS | 180 | 104 | 1986/1/21 | 75 |
| 3 | Jiwon GU | KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS | 183 | 117 | 1994/7/20 | 28 |
| 4 | Jack CORNELSEN | SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS | 195 | 110 | 1994/10/13 | 19 |
| 5 | Amato FAKATAVA | RICOH BLACKRAMS TOKYO | 195 | 118 | 1994/12/7 | 6 |
| 6 | Michael LEITCH | TOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO | 189 | 113 | 1988/10/7 | 83 |
| 7 | Pieter LABUSCHAGNE | Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY | 189 | 106 | 1989/1/11 | 18 |
| 8 | Kazuki HIMENO | TOYOTA VERBLITZ | 187 | 108 | 1994/7/27 | 31 |
| 9 | Naoto SAITO | TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH | 165 | 73 | 1997/8/26 | 18 |
| 10 | Rikiya MATSUDA | SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS | 181 | 92 | 1994/5/3 | 36 |
| 11 | Siosaia FIFITA | TOYOTA VERBLITZ | 187 | 105 | 1998/12/20 | 12 |
| 12 | Ryoto NAKAMURA | TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH | 182 | 92 | 1991/6/3 | 38 |
| 13 | Dylan RILEY | SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS | 187 | 102 | 1997/5/2 | 17 |
| 14 | Kotaro MATSUSHIMA | TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH | 178 | 88 | 1993/2/26 | 54 |
| 15 | Lomano Lava LEMEKI | NEC GREEN ROCKETS TOKATSU | 178 | 96 | 1989/1/20 | 19 |
| 16 | Atsushi SAKATE | SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS | 180 | 104 | 1993/6/21 | 40 |
| 17 | Craig MILLAR | SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS | 186 | 116 | 1990/10/29 | 16 |
| 18 | Asaeli Ai VALU | SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS | 187 | 115 | 1989/5/7 | 29 |
| 19 | Warner DEARNS | TOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO | 201 | 117 | 2002/4/11 | 10 |
| 20 | Amanaki SAUMAKI | KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS | 189 | 108 | 1997/3/8 | 2 |
| 21 | Kenta FUKUDA | TOYOTA VERBLITZ | 173 | 80 | 1996/12/19 | 1 |
| 22 | Ryohei YAMANAKA | KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS | 188 | 98 | 1988/6/22 | 29 |
| 23 | Jone NAIKABULA | TOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO | 177 | 95 | 1994/4/12 | 7 |
