This is the World XV that will play Japan
The World XV that will play Japan this Friday has been named.
Robbie Deans’ squad will face Japan on October 26 at Osaka’s Hanazono Rugby Stadium.The game to mark the renewal of the iconic Hanazono ground.
The side contains 1,537 Super Rugby appearances and 526 test caps.
New Zealand is one of six countries represented with the side also drawing on past and present internationals from Argentina, Australia, Japan, South Africa and Tonga.
Former Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss has also been included in the team. The hooker headlines a strong South African contingent which also includes Willie Britz, Harold Vorster, Corne Fourie, Hencus van Wyk, Lionel Cronje and Jason Jenkins.
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Tonga is represented by former captain Nili Latu.
Argentina by Leonardo Senatore while there are two Australians in Sam Carter and Ben Alexander.
The squad also contains Ben Gunter and Keisuke Moriya from Deans’ Wild Knights side, the only two players in the squad who have not played in Super Rugby.
15 Nehe Milner Skudder (Hurricanes)
14 Toni Pulu (Chiefs)
13 Harold Vorster (Lions/Panasonic)
12 Ma’a Nonu (Blues, New Zealand)
11 Tevita Li (Highlanders)
10 Lionel Cronje (Toyota)
9 Andrew Ellis (Kobe, captain)
8 Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares)
7 Dillon Hunt (Highlanders)
6 Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders)
5 Jason Jenkins (Bulls/Toyota)
4 Sam Carter (Brumbies)
3 Hencus van Wyk (Sunwolves/Sanix)
2 Adriaan Strauss (Bulls)
1 Craig Millar (Sunwolves/Panasonic)
Substitutes: Ricky Riccitelli (Hurricanes), Wyatt Crockett (Crusaders), Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Ben Gunter (Panasonic), Willie Britz (Sunwolves/NTT), Augustine Pulu (Hino/Blues), Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias (Jaguares), Keisuke Moriya (Panasonic), Nili Latu (Hino), Corne Fourie (Lions/Panasonic)