Japan v All Blacks: Eddie Jones brings back ex-Highlanders favourite for Yokohama Test
Split with Eddie Jones and Kazuki Himeno.
Former Highlanders back-row Kazuki Himeno returns to Eddie Jones’ Japan side for their Test against the All Blacks in Yokohama on Saturday.
Himeno, who played for the Highlanders in 2021, is named in a back-row alongside the dynamic Amato Fakatava and number eight Faulua Makisi.
Veteran Warner Deans starts in the second-row with Sanaila Waqa. Meanwhile, in the front-row, hooker Atsushi Sakate packs down with props Takato Okabe and Shuhei Takeuchi.
Exciting backline
Harumichi Taketawa skippers from the pivot position and pairs up with Shinobu Fujiwara as the half-backs. In the midfield, New Zealand-born Nicholas McCurran links up with the electric Dylan Riley.
In the back three, highly-rated star Yoshitaka Yazaki is named at full-back alongside wings Jone Naikabula and Malo Tuitama.
Jones has opted for a regular 5-3 split on the bench with Taiki Koyama, Tomoki Osada and Takuro Matsunaga as the backline options, with the latter in line for a Test debut.
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Hooker Mamoru Harada is joined by props Takayoshi Mohara and Opeti Helu (another potential debutant) as front-row replacements while Epineri Uluiviti and Kanji Shimokawa round out the matchday squad.
It is Jones’ first meeting with the All Blacks since rejoining the Brave Blossoms and the side’s first Test since their 41-17 loss to Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup final.
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Brave Blossoms to face the All Blacks
Japan: 15 Yoshitaka Yazaki, 14 Jone Naikabula, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Nicholas McCurran, 11 Malo Tuitama, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa (c), 9 Shinobu Fujiwara, 8 Faulua Makisi, 7 Kazuki Himeno, 6 Amato Fakatava, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Sanaila Waqa, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Takato Okabe
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Takayoshi Mohara, 18 Opeti Helu, 19 Epineri Uluiviti, 20 Kanji Shimokawa, 21 Taiki Koyama, 22 Tomoki Osada, 23 Takuro Matsunaga
Date: Saturday, 26 October
Venue: Nissan Stadium, Yokohama
Local kick-off: 14:40
BST kick-off: 06:50
GMT kick-off: 05:50
Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Reuben Keane (Australia)
