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

rugbyasia247 Posted On July 21, 2023

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The Japan Men’s national team, the Brave Blossoms take on Samoa on Saturday 22nd July 2023 as part of the three-match Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2023 Pacific Nations Series.

The Japanese Head Coach, Jamie Joseph, will hope for a much-improved performance from his side at Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido as the RWC 2023 fast approaches.

Even though the Japan XV and Brave Blossom have played twice this year, this match will be the first test for the season after losses to the All Blacks XV. The test has added significance as the sides will also play in Toulouse in their Pool D clash at Rugby World Cup 2023.

Japan have won the last three matches against the Pacific Islanders but in total, Samoa has won 11 of the 16 matches since they first played in 1991.

Brave Blossoms are co-Captained by Atsushi Sakate at hooker and Kazuki Himeno at openside-flanker, with four uncapped players selected to start for Japan for the first time. Former captain Michael Leitch earns his 79^th cap and starts at number eight.

Jamie Joseph said: “We’re using this Pacific Nations Series as a stepping stone to Rugby World Cup and Samoa is a massive test for us. We’ve played them 16 times in the past and out of those matches, have only won five, so we know we’re up against a very strong team and a team that we will meet again at the World Cup. It’s definitely a huge challenge, and one the team is looking forward to.”

Samoa have won six of the nine tests against the Brave Blossoms played in Japan but this is their first match at the Sapporo Dome.

For Samoa, this is their first test of 2023, and their last match was in November 2022 which was a 22-0 win against Romania in Bucharest. Former Wallaby fly-half Christian Leali’ifano will make his Manu Samoa debut, while So’otala Fa’aso’o is also set to win his first cap at number eight – Other potential debutants are former All Black prop Charlie Faumuina, Miracle Fai’ilagi and Martini Talapusi.

Brave Blossoms take on Tonga on Saturday, July 29 at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka, Fiji at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday, August 5 as part of the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2023 Pacific Nations Series.

Mathieu Raynal (France) is the match referee.

The JRFU will begin the selection process to replace Jamie Joseph as Head Coach of the Japan National Men’s Team, following his departure at the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup in France.

Date: Saturday, 22nd July – 14:50 KO (local time)
Venue: Tanzaki Dome, Hokkaido, Japan

Match Permutations – Japan vs Samoa – 21st July 2023

Japan go into the matches with Samoa as the higher-ranked of the teams.
If Samoa wins by more than 15 points, they could climb as high as ninth while also relegating the Brave Blossoms to 12th – their lowest position since November 2016.
A draw would be enough to lift Samoa above Georgia into 11th place.
Japan will climb above Wales into ninth place if they beat Samoa by more than 15 points.