Last chance saloon for Japan
Japan coach John Kirwan has made two changes to his starting line-up for his side’s last World Cup game against Canada in Napier on Tuesday.
Sione Talikavili Vatuvei replaces Itaru Taniguchi at blindside flank and Nozomu Fujita steps in for Kensuke Hatakeyama at tighthead prop.
Japan have gone down to France, the All Blacks and Tonga leaving them still seeking a first World Cup win since they thrashed Zimbabwe in 1991.
They have been beset by injuries in New Zealand losing five players from the original 30-man squad, the worst casualty toll of the 20 competing teams.
The only player that is certain to be unused by Japan in their World Cup campaign is uncapped scrumhalf Ippei Asada who was flown in as cover for the injured Tomoki Yoshida last week.
Two other injury replacements, Toetuu Taufa and Bryce Robins, are among the reserves. Japan also did not use lock Justin Ives, who was ruled out before the tournament began.
Wing Hirotoki Onozawa will be looking to avoid losing his 11th World Cup match, which would equal the World Cup record by Romeo Gontineac, the current coach of Romania.
Namibia’s Hugo Horn can also suffer his 11th defeat if the Welwitschias lose against Wales on Monday.
Japan: 15 Shaun Webb, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Alisi Tupuailai, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Takashi Kikutani (captain), 7 Michael Leitch, 6 Sione Talikavili Vatuvei, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Nozomu Fujita, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Hisateru Hirashima.
Replacements: 16 Yusuke Aoki, 17 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 18 Hitoshi Ono, 19 Toetuu Taufa, 20 Atsushi Hiwasa, 21 Murray Williams, 22 Bryce Robins.
Date: Tuesday, September 27
Venue: McLean Park, Napier
Kick-off: 17.00 (04.00 GMT)
Referee: TBC
