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Pacific Nations Cup

Japan stick to the tried and true in selections for PNC final

Harumichi Tatekawa of Japan leads his side out of the tunnel. Photo by Toru Hanai - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images

Japan head coach Eddie Jones has adopted the classic ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ motto in his selections for the Pacific Nations Cup final against Fiji.

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The Brave Blossoms enjoyed consistency of selection throughout the pool stages of the tournament before a handful of changes were made for last weekend’s semi-final vs Manu Samoa.

Those changes proved successful as the hosts produced a near 50-point performance to claim their place in the final.

With that in mind, all but one of the matchday 23 have retained their roles from the semi-final, with the lone change coming in the 23 jersey as Junta Hamano comes in for an injured Taichi Takahashi.

The team have set up camp south of Osaka in Miyazaki in hope of preparing for the humid conditions, and Jones said the challenge for his side is to prove that their attack can outplay one of the most electric teams in word rugby in Fiji.

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How a prince and a WW2 U.S. military seizure created the PNC knockout venues

In 1945, after Japan’s defeat in World War II, the Meiji Jingu Stadium, previously used for rugby, was seized by the U.S. military, making it unavailable for the sport.

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Japan side to play Fiji

1. Shogo Miura
2. Mamoru Harada
3. Shuhei Takeuchi
4. Epineri Uluiviti
5. Warner Dearns
6. Amato Fakatava
7. Kanji Shimokawa
8. Faulua Makisi
9. Shinobu Fujiwara
10. Harumichi Tatekawa
11. Malo Tuitama
12. Nicholas McCurran
13. Dylan Riley
14. Tomoki Osada
15. Seungsin Lee

Replacements

16. Kenta Matsuoka
17. Takato Okabe
18. Keijiro Tamefusa
19. Isaiah Collins-Mapusua
20. Tiennan Costley
21. Taiki Koyama
22. Yusuke Kajimura
23. Junta Hamano

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Special guest's 'powerful' pregame speech inspires Japan to record win

Eddie Jones finds his star playmaker in 23-year-old sensation

ANALYSIS

Japan's strike power proves too much for resilent Samoa in semi-final

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Comments on RugbyPass

C
CO 26 minutes ago
The stat in which the Springboks outperformed everyone fivefold in July

Parson having a chortle over the mismatches

30 Go to comments
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Hellhound 55 minutes ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

It's how it will always be. We have a hate / love relationship.

24 Go to comments
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Hellhound 58 minutes ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

Not true. In the public eye, the Boks is one dimensional and the AB's the Kings of running exciting rugby. The AB's are the most feared team with talent that no other nations can match. Even though that is just pure speculation and maybe true of the past, most NZ folks live in the past era, expecting the AB's to always be the strongest and best. So what chance does poor old SA have against a mighty Giant like the AB's? Despite beating them 4 times in a row which they claim was 4 lucky wins. Despite the Boks being double WC winners, which they say the refs helped them win the WC with 3 single point victories. Despite the Boks winning the RC back to back in 2023 and 2024. It was all lucky wins right? Even the trashing at Twickenham was just a lucky wins. I mean, now they claim these same Boks are going to get “SMASHED”.

24 Go to comments
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Hellhound 1 hour ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

Most often Kings create their own destruction by creating their own worst enemies. By going after Rassie, WR and it's puppets tried to kill the Boks, only to find that all they did was peel away the outer onion layer only. The Boks have so much more endless layers. Keep peeling those layers, and it will make them cry harder with each peel.

24 Go to comments
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Hellhound 1 hour ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

They were a team testing different plays and players. They are a much better side than last year or the WC of ‘23. There is no guarantee of any team winning no, but who wants it more? Who’s mindset will be the strongest? Because that is where the game will be won or lost. Both SA and NZ have exceptional talent. We know it's going to be humdingers. How much is that 4 losses going to bother the AB's? They lost to the Boks and baby Boks in 2 WC Finals. It rankles the NZ public, I know that. Can the AB's players bring back some pride by winning both Tests? Nothing less would be acceptable

24 Go to comments
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Hellhound 1 hour ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

Of course they are favourites. Despite losing 4 in a row. In every game the AB's play they are the favourites. It will be 2 great Tests. However, unlike other seasons, the Boks isn't using the RC to build depth. Rassie wants a full house of wins. The WC grouping is at the end of this year. They mean serious business. The question is how the AB's will handle that mindset? That is what is going to decide these Tests. If the AB's mindset isn't set to WC standards, that will cost them big time. This will be 2 WC Final type of matches. What people see from the Boks is a lot of changes, different players. They think it's just depth building. That is an ongoing process and not the main reason anymore. The Boks have various strategies and various players for those strategies. They are ready for the WC. They are looking at the best players. The in team competition is much harder than what the public knows. It's all about who will be the best of the best to represent the Boks. The AB's are good, but they will face a Bok team a whole lot better than the WC Final team. If the AB's can pull off wins, that will mean they are ready, but be sure that the Boks will thrive with every little mistake. The intensity of the game will run the full 80 minutes and the AB's better be fit and ready to go the full 80 minutes.

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Toaster 1 hour ago
Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

Yep the breakdown goes on “whatever is in their heads”


The Aotearoa rugby pod brings well prepared analysis

141 Go to comments
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Carlos 1 hour ago
‘USA have a way to go to fulfil Moonshot mission but 2031 RWC will be a success’

I’ve been reading a variation of this story for the last 30 years. Never happens. Always the land of tomorrow.


WR is even jiggling classification to try to get the USA into the next World Cup. They couldn’t beat Uruguay or Chile to get to the last one. Chile!

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Toaster 1 hour ago
Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

I think we will see Holland and Barrett (health food chain) with Vaai at 6


Tuipolotu for bench grunt with Finau foe the big boys or Kirifi for a faster game


My hope anyway

141 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
'Would be great': Ronan O'Gara backs rugby to ape football-style rule change

A weak coach who can't innovate looks for a cheat code to beat the game.

5 Go to comments
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SC 1 hour ago
New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

With Savea playing 7 and his lack of ruck cleaning and low tackling rate (he is a world class ball carrier and jackal), the All Blacks need a lock- type player playing blindside and smashing as many offensive rucks as possible so that Savea is freed up to ball carry along with whoever is at 8.

24 Go to comments
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Hellhound 1 hour ago
'Would be great': Ronan O'Gara backs rugby to ape football-style rule change

If you can't beat a team knowing who you are going to face, then why become a coach? The players deserve to know who is going to play and to get themselves mentally ready for the game. Ever wondered why soccer players always flip around, acting like the the weakest men in the universe? Like Nigel Owens used to say…” This is rugby, not soccer”. Already people want rugby to become like League where the weak players dwell. Weak coaches can't innovate the game, instead looking to a cheat move to try and gain an upper hand. That is the difference between a coach like Rassie, a double WC winning coach in par for a triple, and coaches like O’Gara. A King in coaching vs a wannabe. Who knew O’Gara would be the next Matt Williams? I would be very ashamed if they were from my country, and luckily they are not. Drivel like that shouldn't be posted unless it is willing to accept the hate that will come with it

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Toaster 1 hour ago
Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

He’s alright doing the tight stuff as shown by his tackle and ruck stats

He’s got some way to go and maybe they will bench him for the Boks

They shouldn’t

It will be good for him


It’s actually his dominant tackles and open game they will develop but we have seen signs with his offload to Vaai for the try

141 Go to comments
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Toaster 1 hour ago
Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

34 isn’t past it for a World Cup and he will be 34 just after we win the final 😃🙏


Yes it’s entirely possible and probable that the Vaai experiment might be shelved for games and they do play lock together


We may unearth another by then

Lord still hasn’t had a proper go yet and Tuipolotu at a similar Barrett age seems back to great form too

141 Go to comments
S
SC 1 hour ago
New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

As a former lock, it’s frustrating that most media and supporters do not know that there is a significant difference in the roles and duties (even body types) of a 4 power tight lock and 5 aerial loose lock.


The 4 lock is an enforcer who is very physical and carries hard in tight, a very effective nasty ruck cleaner, a very powerful scrummager behind the tighthead, and hard hitting defender. Often the are the second lineout option at the back. This is the spot Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu, Isaiah Walker- Leawere play. Big tough hard men. Think Bakkies Botha and Brodie Retallick.


The 5 lock is almost always taller and leaner as their primary responsibility is winning the ball in the air on lineouts and restarts. Height is essential. They clean a ton of rucks and make a lot of tackles but their carries tend to be out wider in space and which requires more athleticism than tight lock. This is where Holland, Va’ai, and Darry play. Think Victor Matfield and Sam Whitelock.


My point is Holland is way too lean in his body shape at this point, and too inexperienced, and not quite enough mongrel to play 4. Give him time to physically mature and harden up. He is playing great at 5 and Va’ai looks very good at 6.

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Toaster 2 hours ago
Two All Blacks praised as 'potential superstars' in France whitewash

Haha brave calls as a Canes fan!

Lomax is world class and has been unlucky with injury

I won’t count the last game as he’s been out a while

Props need game time

47 Go to comments
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Toaster 2 hours ago
Two All Blacks praised as 'potential superstars' in France whitewash

I think the ABs will be best when the starters are strong but the bench arguably more impactful


I’d be happy to see EDG and Lomax starting and Williams and Newell to smash it around the 45-55 mins mark


Tosi is massive too with such great hands


I think like Finau they can get much more out of EDG for sure

Agree on your comments

47 Go to comments
S
SC 2 hours ago
New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

Josh Lord is the only player more injury prone than Blackadder and Jacobson.

24 Go to comments
S
Soliloquin 2 hours ago
Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

I don’t know the financial story behind the changes that were implemented, but I guess clubs started to lose money, Mourad Boudjellal won it all with Toulon, got tired and wanted to invest in football , the French national team was at its lowest with the QF humiliation in 2015 and the FFR needed to transform the model where no French talent could thrive. Interestingly enough, the JIFF rule came in during the 2009/2010 season, so before the Toulon dynasty, but it was only 40% of the players that to be from trained in French academies. But the crops came a few years later, when they passed it at the current level of 70%.

Again, I’m not a huge fan of under 18 players being scouted and signed. I’d rather have French clubs create sub-academies in French territories like Wallis and Futuna, New Caledonia and other places that are culturally closer to RU and geographically closer to rugby lands. Mauvaka, Moefana, Taofifenua bros, Tolofua bros, Falatea - they all came to mainland after starting their rugby adventure back home.

They’re French, they come from economically struggling areas, and rugby can help locally, instead of lumping foreign talents.

And even though many national teams benefit from their players training and playing in France, there are cases where they could avoid trying to get them in the French national team (Tatafu).

In other cases, I feel less shame when the country doesn’t believe in the player like in Meafou’s case.

And there are players that never consider switching to the French national team like Niniashvili, Merckler or even Capuozzo, who is French and doesn’t really speak Italian.

We’ll see with Jacques Willis 🥲


But hey, it’s nothing new to Australia and NZ with PI!

109 Go to comments
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Soliloquin 3 hours ago
Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

Whitelock said he didn’t want to play “la saison de trop”, meaning he felt like his second season at Pau would have been too much, and rather wanted to end his experience on a good note, which is very admirable from him: he might have felt he wouldn’t perform well enough for the investment it would represent, which I find very classy.

No more details.

324 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ ‘USA have a way to go to fulfil Moonshot mission but 2031 RWC will be a success’ ‘USA have a way to go to fulfil Moonshot mission but 2031 RWC will be a success’