Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has made just one alteration to his starting line-up for their Test against the All Blacks in Tokyo on Saturday.
Joseph has been forced to make a change to his run-on side which suffered a narrow 31-28 defeat to a World XV in Osaka last weekend with Ryohei Yamanaka coming in at full-back for Lomano Lemeki, who is injured.
The Brave Blossoms will be captained by blindside flanker Michael Leitch.
Japan: 15 山中 亮平Ryohei Yamanaka, 14 Jamie Henry, 13 Will Tupou, 12 Tim Lafaele, 11 福岡 堅樹Kenki Fukuoka, 10 田村 優Yu Tamura, 9 流 大Yutaka Nagare, 8 Hendrik Tui, 7 姫野 和樹Shunsuke Nunomaki, 6 Michael Leitch (c), 5 Samuela Anise, 4 Wimpie van der Walt, 3 山下 裕史Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 坂手 淳史Atsushi SAKATE , 1 稲垣 啓太Keita Inagaki
Replacements: 16 庭井 祐輔Yusuki Niwai, 17 三上 正貴Masataka Mikami, 18 Asaeli Valu, 19 Uwe Helu, 20中島 イシレリ Vaka Nakajima, 21 田中 史朗Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 松田 力也Rikiya Matsuda 23 中村 亮土Ryoto Nakamura
Date: Saturday, November 3
Venue: 味の素Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 14:45 local (05:45 GMT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), Graham Cooper (Australia)
TMO: Damien Mitchelmore (Australia)
The matchday 23 is as follows (with Test caps in brackets. New Test All Blacks in bold):
1. Ofa Tuungafasi (22)
2. Dane Coles (56)
3. Angus Ta’avao (1)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (19)
5. Jackson Hemopo (2)
6. Vaea Fifita (7)
7. Dalton Papalii *
8. Luke Whitelock – captain (6)
9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (1)
10. Richie Mo’unga (5)
11. Waisake Naholo (24)
12. Ngani Laumape (8)
13. Matt Proctor *
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder (12)
15. Jordie Barrett (7)
16. Liam Coltman (3)
17. Tim Perry (5)
18. Tyrel Lomax *
19. Dillon Hunt *
20. Gareth Evans *
21. Mitch Drummond *
22. Brett Cameron *
23. George Bridge *
首次代表新帽(CAP)有2位先發(7號 13號),6位板凳替換球員(18號 19號 20號21號 22號 23號).
總教練
Steve Hansen說:首先我代表整個全黑隊恭賀這些球員首次測試賽出場(Test debuts).對球員和家族.甚至一起下場並肩作戰的隊友而言.這是興奮頂特別的時刻,來確認這項成就榮耀.漢森補充說：“我們期待日本能夠進行一場高速節奏碰撞後再持球跑的比賽，而不是手臂摔跤。 我們非常了解他們的教練團，並且非常尊重他們，毫無疑問他們會有一兩把刷子。 因此，我們需要保持敏銳的心態，並為比賽帶來自己的身體重量和強度。Two new All Blacks have been named in the starting XV - loose forward7號 Dalton Papalii and midfielder 13號Matt Proctor – with six more players set to make their Test debuts from the bench: prop 18號Tyrel Lomax, loose forwards20號 Gareth Evans and 19號Dillon Hunt, halfback 21號Mitch Drummond, first five-eighth 22號Brett Cameron and outside back 23號George Bridge.
It will be the second appearance in the black jersey for Hunt and Drummond who played the non-Test against the France XV on last year’s Vista Northern Tour.
Luke Whitelock, who captained the All Blacks against the France XV last year, will captain the side for the first time in a Test. It will be a special day for Whitelock, who becomes the 70th All Blacks Test captain: he made his Test debut against Japan in 2013 and follows in the footsteps of brother Samuel, who captained the All Blacks for the first time last year.
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “Firstly, on behalf of the entire All Blacks squad, we want to congratulate those players who’ll be making their Test debuts. It’s an exciting and special time for those players and their families, as well as their teammates who join them in recognising their achievement.
Hansen added: “We’re expecting Japan to play a high-tempo, hit-and-run game as opposed to having an arm wrestle. We know their coaching stuff very well and have a lot of respect for them and no doubt they’ll have a trick or two up their sleeve. So we’ll need to be sharp of mind and bring our own physicality and intensity to the contest.
“We again look forward to playing in front of the Japanese fans, and on behalf of the entire All Blacks squad, want to thank the Japanese people for their hospitality and support. We look forward to seeing them next year.”
文章定位：
