Japan Brave Blossoms vs Fiji Match Preview – Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2023 Pacific Nations Series

rugbyasia247 Posted On August 4, 2023

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Japan Brave Blossoms vs Fiji Match Preview – Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2023 Pacific Nations Series

Japan’s Brave Blossoms play the last match of the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2023 Pacific Nations Series against the undefeated Fijians on Saturday, August 5th in Tokyo, in what will also be the last match for the Japanese Men’s XV at home before the Rugby World Cup 2023.

The fixture at Tokyo’s historic Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium sees Japan Head Coach, Jamie Joseph select co-captain Kazuki Himeno at number eight and reserve halfback, Yutaka Nagare once again – and an otherwise mostly unchanged squad following last week’s vital win over Tonga.

The victory was only the Brave Blossoms’ fourth win in 15 tests since reaching the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 2019 (in Japan).

Jamie Joseph said: “We were very pleased with last week’s performance. The team has been together for some time now and we’re building well for the World Cup. They’re in good condition around their fitness and strength. They’re coming together well as a team, and I feel that every week we’re delivering more.

We just need to get rid of the small mental lapses that put ourselves under pressure. We’ve got a group of very experienced players who are taking responsibility for that, and I am looking forward to watching them play at the weekend.”

Photo credit: JRFU – Brave Blossoms team preparing for the clash against Fiji on August 5th in Tokyo

There are four changes of personnel to the Japanese starting XV, and three new players come into the matchday squad for the Brave Blossoms with the notable inclusion of Pieter ‘Lappies’ Labuschagne, who returns from injury and starts at openside flank with Himeno starting alongside him at number-eight, while Jack Cornelsen maintains his position at blindside flank.

A number of players are unavailable due to injury – Locks Warner Dearns (ankle), Uwe Helu (shoulder), back-rowers Tevita Tatafu (hand) and Shota Fukui (cheek), while Michael Leitch, is still suspended.

Kanji Shimokawa will earn his second Japanese cap after he made his debut against the All Blacks in Tokyo in October 2022 and Kotaro Matsushima slots back into the starting fullback position in what will be his 50^th test match for Japan.

Fiji came into the Series on the back of losing three matches in a row but have notched up wins (33-19) against Samoa in Apia, as well as a 36-20 victory over Tonga.

Flying Fijians head coach Simon Raiwalui has also been bringing the changes as the RWC 2023 edges closer.

Matthew Carley (England) is the match referee.

Date: Saturday, August 5th, 19:15 KO (local time)
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground (Tokyo)

Brave Blossoms – RWC 2023 Squad

Jamie Joseph will name his 33-player Brave Blossoms Rugby World Cup squad on Tuesday, August 15 2023 and the squad heads to Italy to play the Azzurri in their final Rugby World Cup warm-up on Saturday, August 26.

Match Permutations – Japan vs Fiji– 5th August 2023

Seventeen of the top 20 sides in the World Rugby Men’s rankings are in action this weekend – only Georgia, Portugal and Spain are the exceptions, so there is bound to be some movement on the rankings.
Fiji can continue their ascent in the rankings after reaching the top 10 for the first time in nearly four years last weekend – A win for Fiji will see them replace Wales in ninth if the Welsh fall to defeat in Cardiff.
Japan in 12th and Fiji in 10th will swap places if the Brave Blossoms manage to win at home.
A loss for Fiji would mean they could drop even lower if Italy wins against Ireland in Dublin.