1
Jamie Joseph tinkers with Japan combinations for winner-takes-all clash with USA
Japan have just two scheduled fixtures left to play before the World Cup kicks off next month. As such, Jamie Joseph seems to be playing with combinations leading into the final round of the Pacific Nations Cup.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Saturday match between Japan and the USA will decide who wins this year’s competition. Japan’s most successful season to date was in 2014, when the Brave Blossoms took out the Asia/Pacific conference ahead of the USA and Canada. 2014 also marked the Eagles’ best finish – 2nd in the conference.
Given the contracted nature of 2014’s competition, both sides have arguably already achieved greater things in this year’s tournament. To date, Japan have bested Fiji and Tonga whilst the USA have taken out Canada and Samoa.
The Pacific Nations is probably the last thing on Japan coach Joseph’s mind, however, with the World Cup just around the corner.
As such, there are eight changes to the Brave Blossoms staring lineup.
The front remains intact, but James Moore and Uwe Helu have taken over in the second row from Luke Thompson and Wimpie van der Walt. Thompson has started Japan’s two previous matches and has put in impressive shifts that defy his 38 years of age.
Captain Michael Leitch retains his spot on the blindside flank but both Amanaki Mafi and Yoshitaka Tokunaga will make way for Hendrik Tui and Pieter Labuschagne. After being named as captain in his debut game, Labuschagne had to leave the field against Fiji due to a medial strain. He will be hoping to play the full 80 against the Eagles.
At halfback, Fumiaki Tanaka gets his first match of the year after sitting out the previous two matches through injury. He will partner will the experienced Yu Tamura in the halves. Questions may remain over what would happen should Tamura go down at the World Cup because he’s the only Brave Blossom to have received game time at 10 in this year’s competition. Rikiya Matsuda, on the bench, will likely be given some time to prove has can lead a backline later in the match.
ADVERTISEMENT
Joseph has chosen to mix things up in the midfield. Timothy Lafaele moves in a place to start at second five for Ryoto Nakamura, whilst last week’s fullback, Will Tupou, will come in at centre. Ryohei Yamanaka will slide in at fullback and Kenki Fukuoka comes onto the wing for Lomano Lemeki.
Ultimately, Japan are still fielding a strong team – one that should be more than good enough to account for the high-flying Eagles.
The match kicks off at 4:45 Fiji Standard Time and is part of a double-header being played in Fiji, with Fiji taking on Samoa shortly afterwards.
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to comments