Michael Leitch leads a Japan team that relies heavily on their 2019 World Cup stars for Saturday’s historic first match against the British and Irish Lions.
Leitch is one of 10 survivors from the 26-3 quarter-final defeat by South Africa who will start against the Lions at Murrayfield.
Clermont finisher Kotaro Matsushima is present on the right wing and there are four debutants in Siosaia Fifita, Craig Millar, Jack Cornelsen and Naoto Saito.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the fixture is Japan’s first international since being toppled by the Springboks in their debut appearance in the knockout phase of the World Cup.
They defeated Japanese club team the Sunwolves 32-17 in Shizuoka 10 days ago to aid their preparations for the Lions showdown.
— Japan Rugby (@JRFURugby) June 24, 2021
Japan team to play Lions
Forwards: 1 Keita Inagaki, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 3 Jiwon Koo, 4 Wimpie van der Walt, 5 James Moore, 6 Michael Leitch (CAPTAIN), 7 Lappies Labuschagné, 8 Amanaki Mafi
Backs: 9 Kaito Shigeno, 10 Yu Tamura, 11 Siosaia Fifita, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 15 Ryohei Yamanaka
Replacements: 16 Kosuke Horikoshi, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Jack Cornelson, 20 Kazuki Himeno, 21 Tevita Tatafu, 22 Naoto Saito, 23 Rikiya Matsuda