Preview: Japan vs USA
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:01
It's the second Test of the two-Test series between Japan and the USA after Japan won the first Test 29-19. This one will be played in Tokyo.
Coach John Kirwan made three changes to the Japan side. All three are injury related.
Hitoshi Ono returns from injury while Hajime Kiso or Koji Taira are injured. The latter pair are replaced by New Zealanders Bryce Robins at outside centre and Michael Leich on the flank. Uncapped Masato Toyoda and Piei Mafileo come onto the bench.
Kirwan said: “Taira and Tommo were carrying injuries. They probably could have played tomorrow but Ono and Bryce are 100 percent. There is now a lot of pressure internally on players to play. And this is the type of competitiveness we are trying to create in the team.”
Leitch, who got a yellow card when he came on as a second-half substitute, was impressive on debut. Kirwan said of him: “Leitch brings an added dimension to our attack and showed enough confidence as a young man that he can handle the situation."
The victory in Nagoya was just the fourth time Japan had beaten the Eagles in 17 matches. Kirwan said of the match prospects: “The US will be 50 percent better. So we need to be the same. Not everyone played to their level last week. We can be better and are expecting that. We need to be consistent.”
Scott Johnson has also made changes to his side. Brian Lemay will start at tighthead for the Eagles. In addition, Courtney Mackay will likely get a chance to see some time at lock from the bench. Shawn Pittman and Alec Parker drop off the bench. Parker makes way for Matekitonga Moeakiola who comes down from the starting side and Parker gives Mackay his chance.
Teams:
Japan: 15 Kaoru Matsushita, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Bryce Robins, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Koji Tomioka, 10 Shaun Webb, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani, 7 Takashi Kikutani
(captain), 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Hitoshi Ono, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Yusuke Aoki, 1 Hisateru Hirashima.
Replacements: 16 Naonori Mizuyama, 17 Naoki Kawamata, 18 Luke Thompson, 19 Masato Toyoda, 20 Tomoki Yoshida, 21 Masakazu Irie, 22 Piei Mafileo.
USA: 15 Chris Wyles, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Junior Sifa, 11 Gavin DeBartolo, 10 Mike Hercus, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Pat Quinn, 7 Todd Clever (captain), 6 Inaki Basauri, 5 Hayden Smith, 4 John VanderGiessen, 3 Brian Lemay, 2 Mark Crick, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements: 16 Joe Welch, 17 Matekitonga Moeakiola, 18 Courtney Mackay, 19 JJ Gagiano, 20 Chad Erskine, 21 Thretton Palamo, 22 Valenese Malifa.
Date: 22 November 2008
Kick-off: 19.00
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo
Expected weather conditions: Clear with a high of 14°C,
dropping to 6°C, and a northwester of 18 km/h, abating.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
