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Japan make just two important changes for Samoa challenge

NICE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 17: Lomano Lemeki of Japan looks on during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between England and Japan at Stade de Nice on September 17, 2023 in Nice, France. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

Japan’s head coach, Jamie Joseph, has revealed the lineup for their upcoming clash against Samoa in Pool D, scheduled at Stadium de Toulouse on September 28.

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In the starting XV, Dylan Riley takes the outside-center spot from Tomoki Osada, while Lomano Lemeki steps in for the injured Semisi Masiresa as full-back. These are the only changes from their last game against England, which ended in a 34-12 loss.

Lemeki returns as a starter for the first time since October 23, 2021, when they faced Australia. In the previous match against England, he made a significant impact off the bench, gaining 54 meters, the second-highest for Japan.

Japan fields four players who’ve faced Samoa in both RWC 2015 and 2019 – Shota Horie, Keita Inagaki, Michael Leitch, and Kotaro Matsushima.

Amato Fakatava had a standout debut against Samoa this year, making 90 meters, beating six defenders, and not missing a tackle, completing all 10 attempts. Jack Cornelsen has been strong in the lineout, with two steals against Samoa and four in RWC 2023, alongside Michael Leitch, the only forwards to play every minute in the tournament so far.

Seungsin Lee could make his RWC debut, after scoring 17 points against Samoa in July, converting all six attempts from the tee.

Fixture
Rugby World Cup
Japan
28 - 22
Full-time
Samoa
All Stats and Data

JAPAN TEAM TO FACE SAMOA AT STADIUM DE TOULOUSE

1 Keita Inagaki
2 Shota Horie
3 Jiwon Gu
4 Jack Cornelsen
5 Amato Fakatava
6 Michael Leitch
7 Pieter Labuschagne
8 Kazuki Himeno (c)
9 Yutaka Nagare
10 Rikiya Matsuda
11 Jone Naikabula
12 Ryoto Nakamura
13 Dylan Riley
14 Kotaro Matsushima
15 Lomano Lemeki

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Replacements:
16 Atsushi Sakate
17 Craig Millar
18 Asaeli Ai Valu
19 Warner Dearns
20 Kanji Shimokawa
21 Naoto Saito
22 Seungsin Lee
23 Tomoki Osada

Team Form

Last 5 Games

1
Wins
3
1
Streak
1
14
Tries Scored
16
-138
Points Difference
-13
2/5
First Try
2/5
2/5
First Points
2/5
1/5
Race To 10 Points
3/5
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T
TT 2 hours ago
France snubbing New Zealand tour shows the difference in priorities

Reading this article is like reading someone having a mental breakdown.


European rugby is in endless bankruptcies,  its national sides in endless RWC failings & some of its clubs are only season to season financial propositions BUT, according to the author’s conspiracies, its New Zealand Super Pacific Rugby that, quote, ‘simply isn’t a competition people should take seriously’ (??!!).


That idea while New Zealand Super Pacific Rugby participant clubs continue to profit after 130+ years (& similar traditional Oz club longevity).


Yet it's NZ/Oz rugby that has the viability problem!???


Reality is difficult for you author. See a doctor. Urgently!


But the author's mad rant continues, with the insistence that the way to fix his conspiracy of a sick  Super Pacific Rugby is for it to let all its top players run away OS (surprise, surprise, to Europe to fix its club rugby) by removing OS restrictions  of its best players.


Hurry call an ambulance for the author.


It's simple, a mass exodus of high skill therefore high entertainment players (will that even happen?? ie again given the increasing European restrictions & financial stress in European clubs) will kill the core business of INTEREST in NZ comps & therefore lose the life blood $ of those same TV rights, sponsorships, gate entry, memberships, merchandise, etc. Mass loss in  audience INTEREST & its resulting $$ loss.


RE the French B team for NZ 2025 tests,


If you wanna see where test rugby could end up as (ie 2nd rate) if it continues to allow the  French mismanagement, look at what ‘Indian club cricket money’ control  is doing to test cricket, ie because of A international test team players contracts with  Indian clubs & their $, those players not available for international tests eg South Africa send a ‘B’ test cricket team to NZ last year, likewise West  Indies send a ‘B’ test cricket team to OZ last year.


Relevance to test  rugby & ABs? 

France's reason for not sending their A team for the AB tests in 2025? Quote, 'resting them (!) for the Top 14 club rugby commitments'.


World Rugby is failing to manage & protect the game again.


France CHOSE to make its extra long Top 14  season & not respect the World rugby international window.


France should be removed from test rugby til they do respect it.


Or test rugby will be like failing test cricket very soon by letting national club $ rule over the international game.


If World Rugby allows the degrading of international game it will degrade audience (therefore ratings ), will degrade the $, hence will degrade the $ to players & rugby generally.


World Rugby, Prioritise the international window OVER national club window.


Especially over (despite all it endless irrational hype) failing European club rugby.

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