Japan names squad for A5N opener

FUKUOKA (April 18) – Toshiaki Hirose will lead Japan when they begin their defence of the HSBC Asian Five Nations against the Philippines on Saturday.

Hirose skippers a side short of three players involved in Super Rugby – Fumiaki Tanaka, Shota Horie and Michael Leitch – and which contains two uncapped players in the starting XV and a further two on the bench.

“It’s our strongest team at the moment based on what we have seen in camp,” head coach Eddie Jones said Thursday when the squad was released ahead of the game at Level 5 Stadium.

Five-time champions Japan have yet to drop a point in the competition, but they are up against a side that has risen quickly through the ranks. A point not lost on Jones.

“The Philippines will be different from other Asian teams in that a lot of them have got a background in Australian rugby and in rugby league,” Jones said. “They will be good ball carriers and tacklers and a lot of them have Top League experience.”

Prop Masataka Mikami and centre Male Sa’u are the two new caps in the starting XV, while Takuma Asahara and wing Kenki Fukuoka will make their debuts if they come off the bench.

Mikami lines up with Hiroki Yuhara and Hiroshi Yamashita in an inexperienced front row, with Jones forced to omit Hisateru Hirashima and Takeshi Kizu.

“Hirashima and Kizu are both not quite 100 percent but they should be in the frame for next week,” Jones explained.

Veteran Hitoshi Ono has been named in the second row alongside Shinya Makabe, with Michael Broadhurst, Takashi Kikutani and Ryu Koliniasi Holani forming a powerful and athletic back row.

Atsushi Hiwasa and Kosei Ono line up at halfback, with Ono set to cover scrumhalf in the event of injury, as Jones has opted for six forwards and two backs on the bench.

Sa’u will play outside Harumichi Tatekawa in the centers, with Hirose and Hirotoki Onozawa on the wings and Ayumu Goromaru at fullback.

“We want to build on what we have done in camp,” said Jones. “It’s the first game of the season so we won’t be at 100 percent but I want a good solid game. I want to make sure we do the fundamentals in attack, at the set piece and in defense. I also want to see us play a physical disciplined game.”