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Eddie Jones makes bold flyhalf call for Wales clash

By @rugby365com
Thursday 5 Nov 2026
Japan's coach Eddie Jones looks on before the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup rugby union match between Japan and Australia at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka, Osaka prefecture, on August 8, 2026. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP via Getty Images)

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Japan head coach Eddie Jones has handed flyhalf Riku Kitahara his first start for the Brave Blossoms against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

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Jones, on Thursday, named a pretty settled side as they go in search of their first win against the Welsh away from home.

The matchday squad will be captained by lock Warner Dearns, who led the side in their last outing against Fiji.

Continues below…

 

There are nine survivors from that 28-34 defeat who will take on Wales.

In the forward pack, prop Yota Kamimori and hooker Mamoru Harada have retained their spots.

The loose forward trio will be Ben Gunter and Kanji Shimokawa, both of whom featured against Fiji, and they’ll be joined by Jack Cornelsen.

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Scrumhalf Naoto Saito will pair up with the debutant, Kitahara, while Samisoni Tua, Inoke Burua, and Kippei Ishida are players who have also retained their spots.

After losses against Ireland and France in the opening leg of the competition, the Brave Blossoms will be aiming to cause a couple of upsets against Wales, England, and Scotland in the coming weeks.

Japan: 15 Kazuma Ueda, 14 Kippei Ishida, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Samisoni Tua, 11 Inoke Burua, 10 Riku Kitahara, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Jack Cornelsen, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 6 Ben Gunter, 5 Warner Dearns (captain), 4 Harry Hockings, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Mamoru Harada, 1 Yota Kamimori.
Replacements: 16 Kenji Sato, 17 Sojiro Otsuka, 18 Opeti Helu, 19 Michael Stolberg, 20 Tiennan Costley, 21 Kenta Fukuda, 22 Shinya Komura, 23 Jisu Lee.

Date: Saturday, November 7
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 16.40 (16.40 GMT; 01.40 Sunday, November 8 JST)
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley (England) & Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

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