Japan coach Jamie Joseph has named 10 uncapped players in his 37-man squad for internationals against Australia, Ireland, Portugal and Scotland.
Loose forward Michael Leitch was included in the squad after being relieved of the captaincy last week in an effort to improve his chances of playing in a fourth World Cup in 2023.
The team will be skippered by South African-born flanker Pieter “Lappies” Labuschagne with centre Ryoto Nakamura, who played in all five matches on Japan’s run to the quarter-finals at the last World Cup, as vice-captain.
Stalwart lock Wimpie Van Der Walt missed out through injury, while there was no place in the squad for 29-cap No.8 Amanaki Mafi.
Uncapped development player Daichi Akiyama was one of three locks named along with Australia-born James Moore and Liaki Moli, although No.8 Kazuki Himeno can also play in the second row.
Brisbane-educated Ben Gunter, another of the uncapped players, and Jack Cornelsen, the son of Wallaby Greg, are among nine players who will battle it out for the three starting loose forward spots.
Along with Moore and uncapped former Australian schoolboys winger Dylan Riley, they will be particularly keen to earn a place in the side when the Brave Blossoms take on the Wallabies in Oita on October 23.
That Test is followed by a match against Ireland in Dublin on November 6, a trip to Lisbon to play Portugal on November 13 and then a first meeting with Scotland since their 2019 World Cup clash at Murrayfield on November 20.
Japan have played two matches since they hosted the World Cup two years ago, losing 28-10 to a British and Irish Lions XV in June and going down 39-31 to Ireland in July.
Forwards: Shunsuke Asaoka, Keita Inagaki, Asaeli Ai Valu, Shinnosuke Kakinaga, Koo Ji-won, Isileli Nakajima, Craig Millar, Atsushi Sakate, Yusuke Niwai, Kosuke Horikoshi, Daichi Akiyama, James Moore, Liaki Moli, Ben Gunter, Jack Cornelsen, Yoshitaka Tokunaga, Ryota Hasegawa, Pieter Labuschagne, Michael Leitch, Tevita Tatafu, Kazuki Himeno, Shota Fukui.
Backs: Naoto Saito, Kaito Shigeno, Yutaka Nagare, Yu Tamura, Rikiya Matsuda, Taichi Takahashi, Jone Naikabula, Shogo Nakano, Siosaia Fifita, Lomano Lemeki, Semisi Masirewa, Ryoto Nakamura, Timothy Lafaele, Dylan Riley, Ryohei Yamanaka.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Meh, looks like the average English cricket squad, in that regard.
Phamtom
Roar Rookie
So what's your biff in the first place? Why are you so bitter about it?
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I am nervous Diesel, I just want them to continue with their form so I'll take any win. The intensity Japan plays with may suit us in moments but I also reckon we'll have to slow it down a bit more and play percentages, especially at the scrum. I trust DR would be analysing them a lot, our discipline will need to improve to starve them of ball because they are fantastic at retaining posession.
Rhys
Roar Rookie
I think Max was talking about union scouts. League different story maybe but I can't speak for them as I do not know enough about how that code runs.
Big A
Roar Rookie
that's right - back in those days the Wallabies stood up to the men in black and didn't idolise the AB's like today's guys - who knows what went on in the change rooms - certainly none of us - who cares. Brial was a good hard toiler. My recollection of Bunce was that he was made of granite - good player.
jcr
Roar Rookie
Jo Brial is/ was in the Canterbury rugby colts programme
Walter Wombat III DSO, VD & Scar
Guest
In other words get your facts straight before doing a ScoMo with fake news :rugby:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
The one that is being talked about is All Blacks vs Wallabies.
SDHoneymonster
Guest
Most of the overseas-born players for Scotland and Wales were born in England in fairness - given the complex and intertwining nature of Britain it's strange to really call them 'foreigners,' although there does appear that a backlash against the three Celtic nations in particular waiting for England to develop players only to pinch them with the promise of international caps much sooner when you look at the last few squad selections Eddie's put together. Also worth pointing out that Scotland and Italy have traditionally always had much higher numbers of overseas born players than the rest of the 6N, given both otherwise have only got two professional teams to pick from, with Italy tending towards those from the southern hemisphere qualifying through residency and Scotland sniffing out those in England and NZ with grandparents who many have once stopped for a loo break in Gretna.
MO
Guest
I just googled that. One of the vids was Bunce charging in and putting a shoulder into Brial in a maul when ABs played NSW. That was a cheap shot and very dangerous. Bunce is no angel but he was a hard nut.
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
This will be one hell of a match and if I was Rennie I would not be taking the Japanese lightly. Kiwi coaches Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown on one team with Dave Rennie on the other = fast paced all out attack.
PRM
Roar Rookie
Interesting article on americasrugbynews.com In the 6N only France requires players to possess a passport from the country played for. Also the number of foreign born players in 2021 6N squads Scotland 23 Wales 12 Italy 10 Ireland 8 France 4 England 2 Also the number of foreign born players at RWC 2015 -130, and RWC 2019 – 144
Johnny J-Dog
Guest
I think you'll find that the Nudgee College catchment area actually includes Fiji.
In brief
Guest
If you could be bothered you could create a similarly list for Japan. Many of the island players were educated in ????????
Tim J
Roar Rookie
It is true Bill. Brial said some insulting words he even admitted it. No one knows what was said but Bunce was a chilled out person normally, so something said as well as how Brial attacked on field lead to it.
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
Japan have a plan to run all teams ragged - their pace is incredible.
WEST
Roar Guru
Good old WA.. I don’t miss the flies :laughing: miss the beaches
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
Is this true??? Flattening a player after the match???
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
Is it true JJ wanted too much $$$$ for the NZ Coach role?
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Yes and Bunce met Brial in the Changing rooms after the game and flattened him, when it came out I laughed at thought justice served. Bunce was doing boxing at the time for fitness and strength training.