Canada are out to cause an upset when they face 2015 Rugby World Cup surprise packets Japan. Join The Roar for live scores from 8am (AEST).
Japanese rugby continues to evolve following last year’s famous victory against the Springboks at the World Cup.
The Sunwolves have established themselves in Super Rugby, and Japan will now blood new players against Canada in a bid to form the nucleus for success come 2019.
Canada meanwhile have seven players backing up from last year’s World Cup, with Jamie Cudmore once again leading the way.
There’s also the potential for Matt Tierney and Matt Heaton to win their first Test caps for Canada after being named on the bench.
Harumichi Tatekawa meanwhile captains a new-look Japan, with just nine players backing up from last year’s tournament.
Yoshiya Hosoda, Yasutaka Sasakura and Mifiposeti Paea make their debuts in the run-on XV, while Kaito Shigeno and Rikiya Matsuda will make their first appearances for Japan if they are called off the bench.
The Brave Blossoms head into the game as slight favourites, despite being without a number of high-profile players.
Keita Ingaki, Takeshi Kizu and Kensuke Hatakeyama form an experienced front row. But the back five of locks Kazuhiko Usami and Naohiro Kotaki, flankers Hosoda and Taiyo Ando and No.8 Kyosuke Horie have just 15 caps between them.
The backs too have a mix of the tried and trusted, and the fresh. Shigeno, one of 13 Sunwolves players in the squad, is the back-up scrumhalf, with Kosei Ono and Matsuda the other two replacement backs.
Coupled with home advantage, Canada do possess the experience required to unsettle the Japanese. Japan are still growing as a rugby force and will need to remain patient before unleashing against a competitive foe.
If Japan can play the percentages well, they should secure the win.
Japan by 9
For week now the main question doing the rounds within the Australian rugby ecosystem has been: ‘What the f—k is going on at the…
Will the last person left at the Waratahs please turn off the lights? The exodus from Super Rugby's bottom placed team has continued with…
The Melbourne Rebels are edging ever closer to their maiden finals series but have not yet made a statement to the competition about their…
After last weekend, coach Yapp and the players have a few things to address for the USA game on Friday. All Tests are important,…
Anyone who has read things I’ve written in rugby forums before knows that I am the guy who bangs on about junior rugby participation…
The Brumbies will be looking to push towards the top two when they host the lowly Crusaders, the Reds face the tough day time…
