Brave Blossoms coach makes five changes to the team that lost to Scotland, adding experience and age for showdown in Milton Keynes on Saturday

MILTON KEYNES, 1 Oct - Japan have named their most experienced RWC side ever to play Samoa in the Pool B match at Stadium MK on Saturday.

Their tally of 615 caps beats the team that took to the field against South Africa in Japan’s opening match of RWC 2015 by 15.

The team has 53 RWC caps’ worth of experience. It is also Japan’s second oldest RWC side. The average age of the starting XV is 29 years and 183 days, younger only than the team who lost 39-26 to USA in RWC 2003.

Coach Eddie Jones (pictured) has made five changes to the team that lost 45-10 to Scotland.

Kensuke Hatakeyama replaces Hiroshi Yamashita at tighthead, with Yamashita dropping to the bench.

Switch on wings

Second-row Hitoshi Ono replaces Justin Ives, who is named as a replacement. Ryu Koliniasi Holani starts at number eight with Amanaki Lelei Mafi, who was carried off against Scotland, named as one of two number eights on the bench.

Kosei Ono comes in at fly-half with Harumichi Tatekawa moving to inside centre. Kotaro Matsushima switches wings to accommodate Akihito Yamada at the expense of Kenki Fukuoka, who does not make the matchday 23.

Histoshi Ono extends his record as Japan’s most capped player.

Ayumu Goromaru, the tournament’s leading scorer after the first half of the Pool stage, needs only 18 points to reach 700 international points.

JAPAN

1. Keita Inagaki

2. Shota Horie

3. Kensuke Hatakeyama

4. Luke Thompson

5. Hitoshi Ono

6. Michael Leitch (captain)

7. Michael Broadhurst

8. Ryu Koliniasi Holani

9. Fumiaki Tanaka

10. Kosei Ono

11. Kotaro Matsushima

12. Harumichi Tatekawa

13. Male Sau

14. Akihito Yamada

15. Ayumu Goromaru

Replacements:

16. Takeshi Kizu

17. Masataka Mikami

18. Hiroshi Yamashita

19. Justin Ives

20. Amanaki Lelei Mafi

21. Hendrik Tui

22. Atsushi Hiwasa

23. Karne Hesketh



RNS tpc/bo/sw