Japan make three changes for New Zealand test

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan coach Jamie Joseph has replaced injured back Lomano Lemeki with Ryohei Yamanaka in one of three changes to face New Zealand in Tokyo on Saturday.

Yamanaka comes in at fullback with Jamie Henry moving out to the wing.

Hooker Atsushi Sakate and openside flanker Kazuki Himeno are the two other changes from the side that lost to a World XV in Osaka on Oct. 26.

Michael Leitch captains the team and is one of four New Zealand-born players in the Japanese starting line-up.

Team: 15- Ryohei Yamanaka, 14-Jamie Henry, 13-Will Tupou, 12-Tim Lafaele, 11-Kenki Fukuoka, 10-Yu Tamura, 9-Yutaka Nagare, 8-Hendrik Tui, 7-Kazuki Himeno, 6-Michael Leitch (captain), 5-Samuela Anise, 4-Wimpie van der Walt, 3-Hiroshi Yamashita, 2-Atsushi Sakate, 1-Keita Inagaki.

Replacements: 16-Yusuki Niwai, 17-Masataka Mikami, 18-Asaeli Valu, 19-Uwe Helu, 20-Vaka Nakajima, 21-Fumiaki Tanaka, 22-Rikiya Matsuda, 23-Ryoto Nakamura.

(This version of the story corrects starting hooker, openside flanker, makes clear three changes)

(Reporting by Jack Tarrant; Editing by Peter Rutherford)


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Source: Reuters



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