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Asia’s number one will play host to the Americas’ number one on November 5, it has been confirmed. The fixture has been added to Argentina’s already three-match November Internationals schedule. It will see Los Pumas playing in Tokyo before traveling to the U.K. to face Wales, Scotland and England.
For Japan the fixture is also to be open what is to be a month of four test matches. The Japanese will play Georgia and Wales away and take on Fiji in Vannes, France.
For Japan the home match against Argentina will mark the beginning of the tenure of Jamie Joseph. The New Zealand earned caps for both his home country and Japan, the final cap came against Argentina at Rugby World Cup 1999.
Having arrived to coach the national side from Super Rugby Joseph now hopes to also achieve success coaching at international level. He is the longterm replacement to Eddie Jones who famously coached the Japanese to wins over South Africa, Samoa and the USA at Rugby World Cup 2015.
Results of the Rugby World Cup saw Japan rising in world rankings but the Asians have since fallen to 12th following a two-match home series loss against Scotland. Japan’s opponents this November are all ranked higher, giving them an excellent schedule.
In a press release JRFU chairman Noriyuki Nakamoto said “The fourth-place finishers at last year’s Rugby World Cup are coming to Japan and we want to welcome them with all our hearts, and along with them, we hope for an excellent game between them and Japan’s national team.”
The fixture will be the fifth between the countries and the first in more than a decade. The most recent match took place in Buenos Aires in March 2005 with Argentina winning 68-36. Los Pumas have won three of the remaining four fixtures. Japan’s win came in Tokyo in 1998, by a scoreline of 44-29.
Fixture: Japan vs Argentina
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo
Date: November 5, 2016
Kickoff: 2:40pm (local time)
