Japan reveal team for All Blacks
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Japan have tweaked their starting XV for Saturday’s Test against the All Blacks in Tokyo on Saturday.
Lomano Lemeki drops out of the team after picking up an injury in Japan’s 28-31 loss to a World XV side in Osaka last week.
Ryohei Yamanaka comes into the team at fullback with Jamie Henry moving to the wing.
In the front row, Atsushi Sakate will start at hooker with Yusuke Niwai providing cover on the bench.
The rest of the team remains unchanged from the one that faced the World XV.
Japan: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka, 14 Jamie Henry, 13 William Tupou, 12 Timothy Lafaele, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 8 Hendrik Tui, 7 Kazuki Himeno, 6 Michael Leitch (captain), 5 Samuela Anise, 4 Wimpie Van Der Walt, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Keita Inagaki.
Replacements: 16 Yusuke Niwai, 17 Masataka Mikami, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Uwe Helu, 20 Isileli Nakajima, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Ryoto Nakamura.
Date: Saturday, November 3
Venue: Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 14.45 (18.45 NZ time; 05.45 GMT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), Graham Cooper (Australia)
TMO: Damien Mitchelmore (Australia)
