Japan name squad to face USA in PNC decider

Japan have named a 26-man traveling roster for their final fixture of the Pacific Nations Cup in Suva on Saturday. The match against the USA will serve as a title decider for the competition, with both teams entering the match undefeated after the first two rounds.

Loosehead prop Koki Yamamoto has been called up to the squad, replacing Shogo Miura, in the only addition outside the original group of 31 named prior to the tournament. Suntory hooker Kosuke Horikoshi, Sunwolves flanker Hendrik Tui, and veteran scrumhalf Fumiaki Tanaka are all included having missed out on the first two matches.

Also named is flanker Lappies Labuschagne, who debuted and captained the side in the tournament opener. He was rested for the Tonga match after coming off early against Fiji with a mild knee injury.

Left out of the traveling group are second row Luke Thompson, No8 Amanaki Mafi, and inside center Ryoto Nakamura. James Moore is recalled at lock, with Kazuki Himeno expected to start at the back of the scrum and Will Tupou set to move back to the midfield after playing fullback against both Fiji and Tonga.

FORWARDS
Keita Inagaki (Panasonic Wild Knights), Yusuke Kizu (Toyota Verblitz), Asaeli Valu (Panasonic Wild Knights / Sunwolves), Koki Yamamoto (Yamaha Jubilo), Shota Horie (Panasonic Wild Knights / Sunwolves), Kosuke Horikoshi (Suntory Sungoliath), Atsushi Sakate (Panasonic Wild Knights / Sunwolves), Uwe Helu (Yamaha Jubilo / Sunwolves), James Moore (Sanix Blues / Sunwolves), Wimpie van der Walt (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes), Kazuki Himeno (Toyota Verblitz), Lappies Labuschagne (Kubota Spears), Michael Leitch (capt., Toshiba Brave Lupus), Yoshitaka Tokunaga (Toshiba Brave Lupus / Sunwolves), Hendrik Tui (Suntory Sungoliath / Sunwolves)

BACKS
Yutaka Nagare (Suntory Sungoliath), Kaito Shigeno (Toyota Verblitz / Sunwolves), Fumiaki Tanaka (Canon Eagles / Sunwolves), Rikiya Matsuda (Panasonic Wild Knights / Sunwolves), Yu Tamura (Canon Eagles / Sunwolves), Timothy Lafaele (Kobelco Steelers), Will Tupou (Coca-Cola Red Sparks), Kenki Fukuoka (Panasonic Wild Knights), Lomano Lemeki (Honda Heat), Kotaro Matsushima (Suntory Sungoliath), Ryohei Yamanaka (Kobelco Steelers / Sunwolves)