Kirwan puts faith in form for France

Japan coach John Kirwan is confident he has selected his best XV for the tough opening match against France on Saturday.

Kirwan made wholesale changes to the side that beat USA 20-14 last month, retaining only four from the starting line-up in what was the players' last audition before the RWC squad announcement.

He says he has to field in-form players if the Brave Blossoms are to prosper in Pool A, which also includes New Zealand, Tonga and Canada.

"I told the team during the Pacific Nations Cup and the Asian 5 Nations that I would be picking the guys who I felt are playing the best at the moment," said New Zealand-born Kirwan, who heads into his second RWC with Japan. Four years ago in France, his team had three defeats and a draw.

"We had two guys unavailable because of injury, Justin Ives and [Yuta] Imamura. Besides those two, these are the 22 that we've decided are playing the best at the moment to face France."

Japan and France have played each other in two Tests in the past, the French winning both times. They last clashed at RWC 2003, when France won 51-29.

Wing Hirotoki Onozawa, who will start this weekend at North Harbour Stadium, is Japan's only player who appeared in the loss eight years ago.

Captain Takashi Kikutani said the PNC holders were loose and ready to take on world No. 4 Les Bleus in what will be the biggest game for most of the players.

"I don't feel pressed, just really relaxed at the moment," Kikutani said. "As JK has said, you don't get too many opportunities to play a team like France.

"It's an honour and a privilege to be facing France at full strength. We need to play to our strength, which is speed, and seeing that this is the World Cup we want to show the world what Japanese rugby is capable of."

Kirwan said: "For me, it's the players' time not my time. It's about focusing on the team to prepare against France.

"This is the best time of their lives. I'm proud to be home as a New Zealander but my main focus is preparing the team to play in what I believe will be a great Rugby World Cup."