All Blacks on high alert ahead of clash with Eddie's Japan

SPOTLIGHT: The All Blacks will be wary of Japan’s “flair” under Eddie Jones when the two sides meet in Yokohama on Saturday.

New Zealand face Japan before heading to Europe for Tests on successive weekends against England, Ireland and France, followed by Italy.

“I think just the Japanese flair is what we’ve got to look out for this weekend,” centre David Havili told reporters in Tokyo on Monday.

“We know they like to play with the ball a lot, so we have to take control there.”

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Jones, the former England and Australia coach, is “definitely an innovative coach and you’ve seen that in the teams he has been a part of”, Crusaders star Havili, 29, said.

“We have to be ready for something different and I am sure that they will bring that as well,” added Havili, who has played 28 times for the All Blacks.

“It’s all about us making sure that we execute in the right areas of the field.

“We don’t want to give them the ball and [give away] silly little turnovers that are making us play in our own part of the field.

“So definitely position and territory will be a big one for us.”

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(Getting ready) pic.twitter.com/nED1e2Qnw7

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 21, 2024

Scrumhalf Cam Roigard battled back from injury to make a squad announced earlier this month that also features soon-to-retire veterans Sam Cane and TJ Perenara.

Three experienced back row forwards – Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali’i – were later ruled out of the start of the tour with injuries.

Uncapped 21-year-old Hurricanes flank Peter Lakai and Chiefs lock Josh Lord were added to a squad that was reduced in size from 36 to 35.

The All Blacks have struggled for consistency in coach Scott Robertson’s first nine Tests in charge and they are expected to be seriously challenged on their season-ending tour.

New Zealand were upset by Argentina in August before losing both of their matches against Rugby Championship winners South Africa.

They bounced back with twin victories over Australia.

Japan made the final of last month’s Pacific Nations Cup with three wins in a row but lost to Fiji, denying the 64-year-old Australian Jones his first title since returning to the Brave Blossoms this year.