Japan make five changes for Ireland test


  • Rugby
  • Thursday, 15 Jun 2017

Britain Rugby Union - Wales v Japan - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales - 19/11/16 Japan head coach Jamie Joseph Action Images via Reuters / Peter Cziborra Livepic

(Reuters) - Japan coach Jamie Joseph has made five changes to his starting lineup to face Ireland at Shizuoka's Ecopa Stadium on Saturday with Harumichi Tatekawa, Akihito Yamada, Yu Chinen and Hitoshi Ono all unavailable through injury.

William Tupou wins his first cap in the back row and will start alongside Samoan-born Coca-Cola Red Sparks team mate Timothy Lafaele, while Kotaro Matsushima replaces Yamada on the wing.

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