Japan keep changes to a minimum for crucial Rugby World Cup clash against Argentina

David Skippers
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Siosaia Fifita Japan training RWC 2023 - Alamy.jpg

Brave Blossoms flyer Siosaia Fifita.

Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has named his starting line-up for Sunday’s crunch Pool D Rugby World Cup showdown against Argentina in Nantes.

Joseph has made just one change to his starting line-up from last weekend’s 28-22 triumph against Samoa with Siosaia Fifita replacing Jone Naikabula on the left wing.

Experienced loose trio

Kazuki Himeno continues to lead the Brave Blossoms from number eight and he is joined in the back-row by Lappies Labuschagne and Michael Leitch, who are the openside and blindside flankers respectively.

The rest of the forwards are unchanged with Amato Fakatava and Jack Cornelsen continuing in the engine room while veteran hooker Shota Horie packs down in the front-row alongside Jiwon Gu and Keita Inagaki, who are the starting props.

Amongst the backs, Fifita is joined in the back three by full-back Lomano Lemeki, who was the official man of the match in that victory over Samoa, and Kotaro Matsushima, who starts on the right wing.

Meanwhile, Dylan Riley and Ryoto Nakamura continue as the preferred centres with Rikiya Matsuda and Naoto Saito the starting half-backs.

Joseph has opted for a five/three split on the replacements bench with Atsushi Sakate, Craig Millar, Asaeli Ai Valu, Warner Dearns and Amanaki Saumakithe the forward reserves, while Kenta Fukuda, Ryohei Yamanaka and Naikabula offer backline cover.

Japan and Argentina can ill afford a defeat in Sunday’s encounter. Both nations are level on nine points in Pool D’s standings behind table-toppers England, who have already qualified for the quarter-finals.

The team

Japan: 15 Lomano Lemeki, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Siosaia Fifita, 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Kazuki Himeno (c), 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Amato Fakatava, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Jiwon Gu, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki
Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Warner Dearns, 20 Amanaki Saumaki, 21 Kenta Fukuda, 22 Ryohei Yamanaka, 23 Jone Naikabula

Date: Sunday, October 8
Venue: Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Kick-off: 13:00 local (12:00 BST, 11:00 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

READ MORE: Argentina chop and change for crunch Rugby World Cup clash against Japan

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