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Japan

University student handed Japan Test debut vs England

By Jon Newcombe

184 days ago

Yoshitaka Yazaki scores a try to help High School Japan beat Ireland U19 on March 22, 2023. Photo: JRFU.

Eddie Jones has selected a largely inexperienced squad for his first Test back as head coach of the Brave Blossoms, with rising star Yoshitaka Yazaki set to win his first cap at full-back against England in Tokyo on Saturday.

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The recently-turned 20-year-old started all three matches in Japan XV’s recent World Rugby Pacific Challenge-winning campaign and he played at last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship.

Japan U Official Trailer | RPTV

Follow Teikyo University’s championship rugby team as they aim to become future Brave Blossoms. Coming 6pm BST Monday 17 June on RugbyPass TV

Coming soon

Japan U Official Trailer | RPTV

Follow Teikyo University’s championship rugby team as they aim to become future Brave Blossoms. Coming 6pm BST Monday 17 June on RugbyPass TV

Coming soon

An electric runner, Waseda University’s Yazaki has yet to make his first-class debut but has been earmarked for some time as one to watch.

Three other players are set to make their Test debuts as Japan attempt to beat England for the first time in five attempts at this level.

As he looks to develop his squad building up to Rugby World Cup 2027, particularly the front-row, Jones has also handed first caps to loose-head Takayoshi Mohara, hooker Mamoru Harada and openside Tiennan Costley.

Jones retains only three starting players from the 39-27 loss to Argentina at last year’s Rugby World Cup that signalled their elimination from the tournament at the end of the pool stages.

Blindside Michael Leitch is one of the returnees and he has been named captain having led the team for the majority of Jones’ first spell in charge of the Brave Blossoms.

The 35-year-old, who has appeared at four Rugby World Cups, will captain Japan for the 37th time in his 85th having not worn the armband since Japan lost 39-31 to Ireland in July 2021.

Scrum-half Naito Saito and outside-centre, Dylan Riley, are the two other players to feature against Los Pumas in Japan’s last Test.

Replacement forwards Keijiro Tamefusa and Kai Yamamoto and backs Shinobu Fujiwara and Samisoni Tua are set to win their first caps off the bench.

Japan team vs England: Yoshitaka Yazaki; Jone Naikabula, Dylan Riley, Tomoki Osada, Koga Nezuka; Seungsin Lee, Naoto Sato; Takayoshi Mohara, Mamoru Harada, Shuhei Takeuchi, Sanaila Waqa, Warner Dearns, Michael Leitch (capt.), Tiennan Costley, Faulua Makisi.

Replacements: Atsushi Sakate, Shogo Miura, Keijiro Tamefusa, Amanaki Saumaki, Kai Yamamoto, Shinobu Fujiwara, Rikiya Matsuda, Samisoni Tua.

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Comments

2 Comments

Timmyboy 184 days ago

Eddies bottled it

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Comments on RugbyPass

AC 41 minutes ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

No I know. Like I mentioned, many would be opposed, most of all France. France's domestic rugby rivals their domestic football, that's how healthy it is.

4 Go to comments

AC 42 minutes ago

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It was, perhaps the worst performance I've ever seen from Quins. Also a very un-Quins performance because usually, when they lose, it's because they gave up too many tries even though they scored enough. Haven't been blanked in 10 years. Didn't even let Gloucester get that many, they just simple could not get the ball across the line, couldn't hold on to it really at all.

1 Go to comments

HU 59 minutes ago

'Tom has the potential to be better than a British and Irish Lion'

a long long time ago, when I was writing articles myself (as a way to earn some money during my university studies) there was some editing involved .... if I had put up crap like "better than a British Lion" I would have got called into the editor-in-chief's office and been reminded about taking the profession seriously ....

7 Go to comments

HU 1 hour ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

no way France would join .... why would they, the Top14 is perhaps the healthiest competition in (professional) club rugby and even the D2 seems to be up and running ..... I can't see any selling point to be convincing ....

4 Go to comments

ED 2 hours ago

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This teamsheet is different to bears site and planet rugby.

1 Go to comments

Barry 3 hours ago

'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'

Always has elevated the profile of African rugby?

They didn't do much for the games profile from 1981 - 1992. Not in a positive sense at least.

5 Go to comments

Bull Shark 3 hours ago

'Tom has the potential to be better than a British and Irish Lion'

What does “better than a British Lion” mean?

As good as a springbok?

7 Go to comments

Hellhound 4 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

On this I agree with you. There were many great teams and many different eras of rugby with very different rule sets. It's actually impossible to declare one team or player as the best ever. However, this is definitely the best SA team SA has ever had. All the accolades speaks for itself.

129 Go to comments

Hellhound 4 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

All you can do is hate on SA. Jealousy makes you nasty and it's never a good look. Those who actually knows rugby is all talking about the depth and standards of the SA players. They don't wear blinders like you. The NH had many years to build the depth and players for multiple competition the SA teams didn't. There will be growing pains. Not least travel issues. The NH teams barely have to travel to play an opponent opposed to the SA teams. That is just one issue. There is many more issues, hence the "growing pains". The CC isn't yet a priority and this is what most people have a problem with. Saying SA is disrespecting that competition which isn't true. SA don't have the funds yet to go big and get the players needed for 3 competitions. It all costs a lot of money. It's over using players and get them injured or prioritising what they can deliver with what are available. To qualify for CC, they need to perform well in the URC, so that is where the main priorities is currently. In time that will change with sponsors coming in fast. They are at a distinct disadvantage currently compared to the rest. Be happy about that, because they already are the best international team. You would have hated it if they kept winning the club competitions like the URC and CC every year too. Don't be such a sourmouth loser. See the complete picture and judge accordingly. There is many factors you aren't even aware of at play that you completely ignore just to sound relevant. Instead of being an positive influence and spread the game and help it grow, we have to read nonsense like this from haters. Just grow up and stop hating on the game. Go watch soccer or something that loves people like you.

129 Go to comments

Barry 4 hours ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

The RFU won't go for it especially now they've enhanced hybrid contracts and some control over their international players.

4 Go to comments

Barry 7 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

Exactly. They haven't learnt. Their regions and U20s are also whipping boys which is the bigger concern. Nothing coming through.

They maxed out the credit cards to keep their golden generation of players at home. It's now destroyed the game at every level in Wales.

10 Go to comments

Barry 7 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

Nor can the same coach turn it around. That's been proven across the last year. It will be years before they are even competitive again. It's a 5 year + job. No way Gatland will be around for that.

Italy's nadir was around ten years ago and even they were better equipped with their regions, U20s and senior squad and management. Wales have further to fall.

10 Go to comments

Barry 7 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

If they're happy at losing 12 on the bounce, get a regional coach who would be as bad but cost about a sixth in salary.

10 Go to comments

dw 8 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I'm no expert but I've never seen nz or even aus as doing much for those nations? Both have benefited from their countries players playing for us! I see most of the top nations looking after themselves and maybe it's a world rugby issue?

129 Go to comments

richard davies 8 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

At 600k a year I would think there will be quite a Que. win lose or draw you can blame the small stature of the players and the WRU