Japan rugby head coach Eddie Jones speaks at a press conference in Yokohama on Oct. 24, 2024, two days before a test match against New Zealand in the eastern Japan city near Tokyo. (Kyodo)
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japan’s 2023 Rugby World Cup captain, Kazuki Himeno, will return to the national team for the first time in a year after being included Thursday in the starting lineup to play New Zealand’s All Blacks on Saturday.
Japan head coach Eddie Jones named 34-year-old flyhalf Harumichi Tatekawa, who has been capped 60 times, his captain for the test at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium. Atsushi Sakate will earn his 47th cap at hooker, while Himeno, at flanker, will earn his 33rd.
At the other end of the spectrum, Waseda University fullback Yoshitaka Yazaki will earn his fifth cap for the Brave Blossoms.
Currently ranked 14th in the world, Japan have never beaten the third-ranked All Blacks, with Jones saying a game against New Zealand could be a life-changing experience.
Starting XV
Takato Okabe, Atsushi Sakate, Shuhei Takeuchi; Sanaila Waqa, Warner Dearns; Amato Fakatava, Kazuki Himeno, Faulua Makisi; Shinobu Fujiwara, Harumichi Tatekawa (C); Malo Tuitama, Nicholas McCurran, Dylan Riley, Jone Naikabula, Yoshitaka Yazaki
Replacements
Mamoru Harada, Takayoshi Mohara, Opeti Helu, Epineri Uluiviti, Kanji Shimokawa, Taiki Koyama, Tomoki Osada, Takuro Matsunaga
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