‘Build a team for the World Cup’: Japan name side for PNC semi-final

Japan coach Eddie Jones has selected a dozen players with fewer than 10 caps for the team’s Asahi Super Rugby Pacific Nations Cup clash with the USA this weekend, as the Brave Blossoms build towards the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.

The Brave Blossoms lost a thriller to the Wallabies at Hanazono Rugby Stadium last month, but return to the venue with a 1-1 record since then. That included another defeat to the Wallabies in Australia, and a commanding victory over Canada last weekend.

Naoto Saito captains a relatively inexperienced Japan side, with the scrum-half one of just three players with at least 34 Tests of experience. None of the Brave Blossoms named have reached the 50-Test mark, but that presents an important opportunity for the team.

There are less than 13 months between now and the World Cup, and Jones wants to “build up a team that has 400 to 500 caps before the World Cup.” The Japan side named to take on the USA have about 342 caps between them, and 257 in the starting XV.

“It’s our best 23. That’s first thing,” Jones told reporters on Thursday.

“It’s important that players get as much experience as they can in Test match rugby and every match in Test match rugby is different.

“Particularly for a winger like Inoke [Brua], to experience a Test match like this is going to be important in preparation for what’s coming forward.

“It’s always about the best 23 first and then obviously we’re trying to build a team for the World Cup.”

Six-Test loosehead prop Otsuka Sojiro will pack down up front alongside hooker Mamoru Harada and 29-Test tighthead Shuhei Takeuchi. Japan are without Warner Dearns, with Michael Storberg and Harry Hockings forming the second-row combination.

Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights backrower Ben Gunter has again been named at blindside flanker, with Koji Shimokawa at openside. Another Wild Knights player, Jack Cornelsen, rounds out the loose forwards at No. 8.

Saito will combine with in-form playmaker Ryunosuke Ito in the halves, while Yua Hirose and Dylan Riley take their place in the midfield. Hazuma Ueda and Inoke Brua line up on the wings, with Sam Gren starting at fullback.

Maxi Fulua and Shinobu Fijiwar have 45 Test caps between them alone, and those two will look to make an impact off the bench. Samisoni Tour, Sena Kimura and Kenji Sato are among the others named in the replacements.

Japan team to take on USA

1. Sojiro Otsuka
2. Mamoru Harada
3. Shuhei Takeuchi
4. Michael Stolberg
5. Harry Hockings
6. Ben Gunter
7. Kanji Shimokawa
8. Jack Cornelsen
9. Naoto Saito (c)
10. Ryunosuke Ito
11. Kazuma Ueda
12. Yuya Hirose
13. Dylan Riley
14. Inoke Burua
15. Sam Greene

Replacements

16. Kenji Sato
17. Sena Kimura
18. Takumi Inaba
19. Esei Haangana
20. Tiennan Costley
21. Faulua Makisi
22. Shinobu Fujiwara
23. Samisoni Tua