Preview: Japan v Fiji
With Japan on a high from their shock defeat of Tonga last weekend, and their cash-rich domestic league going from strength to strength, the Cheery Blossoms could not be in a better position heading into their IRB Pacific Nations Cup calsh with Fiji on Saturday.
With Japan on a high from their shock defeat of Tonga last weekend, and their cash-rich domestic league going from strength to strength, the Cheery Blossoms could not be in a better position heading into their IRB Pacific Nations Cup clash with Fiji on Saturday.
Wing Kosuke Endo, who scored one of the tries of the World Cup against Wales in France last year, is playing a big part in the Japanese revival, and coach John Kirwan was singing his praises to the IRB this week.
“I remember going to the gym when I first got here and said 'that guy looks like he's got a decent body on him', then he threw a few weights around and I thought 'this is good' and it worked out that it was Endo,” Kirwan said.
“He's just a very good professional, he's ambitious, he wants to play at the highest level and he's got a good step, strong and fast so I think he could be one of the best wingers in the world.
“He's definitely one of our strike players and you saw in the World Cup he's certainly got game, so his job is to at least get the ball 14 to 16 times in a game.”
With the European clubs becoming increasingly ambitious, Endo himself is also now alive to the possibility of playing overseas.
“I'd love to go abroad,” Endo said.
“I went to World Cup and I saw the world. There are many players who I haven't seen. Watching games live is different from watching on TV. I really want to play at a higher level now.”
Meanwhile, Fiji's head coach Ilivasi Tabua has made six changes to the side that lost narrowly to the New Zealand Maori for the game in Tokyo.
In the forwards Alefoso Yalayalatabua starts at loosehead prop in place of Graham Dewes, while Aporosa Vata starts at scrum-half in place of Mosese Rauluni and Michael Tagicakibau comes in for Vilimoni Delasau on the left wing.
The teams:
Japan: 15 Shaun Webb, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 James Aldridge, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Takuro Miuchi (capt), 7 Hare Makiri, 6 Takashi Kikutani, 5 Toshizhumi Kitagawa, 4 Hitoshi Ono, 3 Tomakazu Soma, 2 Yusuke Aoki, 1 Tatsukichi Nishiura.
Replacements: 16 Naonori Mizuyama, 17 Yuta Inose, 18 Tomoaki Taniguchi, 19 Ryu Koliniasi Holani, 20 Tomoki Yoshida, 21 Bryce Robins, 22 Christian Loamanu.
Fiji: 15 Taniela Rawaqa, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Sireli Naqelevuki (v/capt), 12 Kameli Ratuvou, 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Waisea Luveniyali, 9 Aporosa Vata, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Aca Gavidi, 6 Semisi Naevo, 5 Kele Leawere, 4 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 3 Jone Railomo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Alefoso Yalayalatabua.
Replacements: 16 Vereniki Sauturaga, 17 Viliame Seuseu, 18 Sailosi Rabonaqica, 19 Deryck Thomas, 20 Nemia Kenatale, 21 Vereniki Goneva, 22 Marika Vakacegu.
Date: Sunday, June 22
Venue: Olympic stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 14.05 (05.05 GMT)
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)