John Kirwan announces team for Japan’s 2011 Rugby World Cup opener against France – Rugby News
The Japanese national Rugby Union team’s head coach, John Kirwan, has announced his match day 22 for their 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) opener against France. Both teams will play their first match of the tournament on Saturday, September 10 at North Harbour Stadium, North Shore City.
Kirwan has made 11 changes in his starting xv as compare to the squad which took the field against the United States of America on Sunday, August 21 at Tokyo. This includes six changes in the forwards pack while the remaining four are in the backs pack.
Kirwan announced his squad for their RWC opener against the Les Bleus on Wednesday, September 7.
Earlier, Kirwan has expressed his desire to win at least two pool matches games. He is taking the Japan in the 2011 RWC with two rugby union titles in their bag. He added, “If you want to be successful at the World Cup you need a strong side. These guys are the guys in form at the moment, so they've got the start.”
Japan has won the 2011 International Rugby Board’s (IRB) 2011 Pacific Nations Cup. Earlier they bagged the 2011 Asian Five Nations title also.
Kirwan further added, “The most important thing for us is to be the most improved team at this World Cup, to do that we need to be competitive on Saturday night and next Friday night.”
Center Ryan Nicholas, second row forward Luke Thompson, back row forward Takashi Kikutani, and winger Hirotoki Onozawa retained their places in the starting xv.
Shaun Webb will start the match as the fullback in place of the Blaine Scully, who has been dropped from the match squad. Additionally, Japan’s first choice half back pair consisting of the fly half James Arlidge and scrum half Fumiaki Tanaka will take the field in the starting xv.
Kirwan added there is additional pressure on him, as his mother , who is 82 years old, will be watching the game from the ground. Kirwan is a former All Blacks international winger and a New Zealand native.
Japan is placed in Pool A of the 2011 RWC, following to Saturday’s game they will have to play against the hosts All Blacks, Tonga and Canada in their remaining pool matches.
Japan’s squad, for their weekend encounter against France consists of,
Starting XV: 15 Shaun Webb, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryukoliniasi Holani, 7 Michael Leitch, 6 Takashi Kikutani (c), 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Hisateru Hirashima.
Replacements: 16 Yusuke Aoki, 17 Nozomu Fujita, 18 Hitoshi Ono, 19 Itaru Taniguchi, 20 Atsushi Hiwasa, 21 Murray Williams, 22 Alisi Tupuailai.
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