Japan beat Russia in tournament curtain-raiserPosted by poch1991@jourrapide.com on September 28th, 2019 in last Friday's tournament opener helped by Kotaro Matsushima's hat-trick of tries. Mafi's inclusion for Leitch, which sees Kazuki Himeno move from the back of the scrum to blind-side flanker, is one of three personnel changes in the pack. Koo Jiwon comes into the front row for Asaeli Ai Valu as Luke Thompson replaces Wimpie van der Walt at lock. Wing Lomano Lemeki also makes way as Rhoyei Yamanaka comes in at full-back with Will Tupuo moving to the left wing. Japan broke into the world's top 10 under Joseph's predecessor Eddie Jones, and have become almost a permanent fixture there under former All Black Joseph. But they no longer carry the element of surprise following their heroics at the last World Cup four years ago, when they produced the biggest upset in the tournament's history by stunning South Africa 34-32. Like it? Share it! More by this author |