Japan announce team for France opener
Japan coach John Kirwan, pictured here at a training session in Auckland this week, has chosen his team for their opener against France Credit:
RWC
Japan's general manager Osamu Ota on Thursday announced his team to play the opening match in Pool A against France at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland on Saturday, 10 September.
Japan:
1. Hisateru Hirashima
2. Shota Horie
3. Kensuke Hatakeyama
4. Luke Thompson
5. Toshizumi Kitagawa
6. Takashi Kikutani (c)
7. Michael Leitch
8. Ryukoliniasi Holani
9. Fumiaki Tanaka
10. James Arlidge
11. Hirotoki Onozawa
12. Ryan Nicholas
13. Koji Taira
14. Kosuke Endo
15. Shaun Webb
Replacements:
16. Yusuke Aoki
17. Nozomu Fujita
18. Hitoshi Ono
19. Itaru Taniguchi
20. Atsushi Hiwasa
21. Murray Williams
22. Alisi Tupuailai