Joseph selects six survivors from Brighton

Japan coach Jamie Joseph has named six survivors from the Rugby World Cup host nation’s finest hour in his team for Friday’s eagerly anticipated warm-up game against the Springboks in Kumagaya.

Japan’s 34-32 win over the Springboks in their opening game of the 2015 World Cup was rated at the time as one of rugby’s most astounding upsets and it has understandably been a big talking point in the build-up to Friday’s game. Friday’s game will be played exactly two weeks before Japan’s opening World Cup clash with Russia and two week and one day before South Africa opens their campaign against the champions, New Zealand.

Although Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has left no doubt that his team remembers what happened in Brighton four years ago, but both teams are playing down their only previous encounter, with former All Black Joseph reminding the Japanese rugby media at the team announcement that this game will be played between two very different teams to the ones that clashed in 2015.

"This match will be between different teams with different coaches and different ideas," said Joseph before adding that if his team performed they believed they could create “a winning opportunity".

But while saying his team will not be going into the game feeling any fear, they are under no illusions about what they are up against.

"This will be a significant step up from the Pacific Cup. But it will be a physical World Cup and that is part of the reason we wanted to play South Africa," said the former Highlanders Super Rugby winning coach.

Michael Leitch captains a Japan side that contains one uncapped player in Takuya Kitade but which is mostly experienced. Although hooker Shota Horie has been given more time to recover from a neck injury, the core of the team that will play in Kumagaya guided Japan to their Pacific Nations Cup triumph. Mindful of the fact that his team will be up against what he regards as the biggest pack in world rugby, Joseph has emphasised physicality in his selections, with Japan commentators suggesting this has been the thinking behind Uwe Helu starting next to Luke Thompson in the second row.

According to Joseph, his players have been given extra motivation due to Erasmus paying them the compliment of selecting his strongest team for the final World Cup warm-up match.

"The players are elated that he has picked his strongest side and it shows respect," said Joseph.

"It will be hot and humid and we are anticipating there will be a lot of handling mistakes because of the slippery ball."

But Joseph said that there was a bigger picture that overrode the aesthetic appeal of Friday’s game.

“(After this) everyone in the squad will have represented their country in a big match, some more than others. This is the last page of preparation."

Japan team: Will Tupou, Kotaro Matsushima, Timothy Lafaele, Ryoto Nakamura, Kenki Fukuoka, Yu Tamura, Kaito Shigeno, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Pieter Labushagne, Michael Leitch (captain), Uwe Helu, Luke Thompson, Jiwon Koo, Atsushi Sakate, Keita Inagaki.

Replacements: Takuya Kitade, Isileli Nakajima, Asaeli Ai Valu, James Moore, Kazuki Tokunaga, Yutaka Nagare, Rikiya Matsuda, Ataata Moeakiola.