Third row Kazuki Himeno, who missed the first match due to a calf injury, is back to lead Japan against England on Sunday (9:00 p.m.) in Nice, according to the lineup revealed on Friday. “I was able to rest, my condition is good, I feel fresh,” Himeno said at a press conference, forced to give up at the last minute on his team’s victorious entry against Chile (41- 12). Brave Blossoms coach Jamie Joseph has incorporated three other new players into his starting XV, including experienced flanker Pieter Labuschagne, back from suspension. Hooker Shota Horie and center three-quarter Tomoki Osada, replacements against the Chileans, will also start the match.
Rikiya Matsuda has been brought back at opener and former captain Michael Leitch will start his 15th World Cup match, erasing Luke Thompson’s record from the books. “We will have to live up to our nickname of Brave Blossoms against England, one of the best teams in the world. We are ready to give 100%, even 120%,” assured Himeno, former Highlanders player in Super Rugby.
Masirewa – Matsushima, Osada, Nakamura, Naikabula – (o) Matsuda, (m) Nagare – Labuschagne, Himeno (cap.), Leitch – Fakatava, Cornelsen – Gu, Horie, Inagaki
Remplaçants: Sakate, Millar, Ai Valu, Dearns, Shimokawa, Saito, Riley, Lemeki