PACIFIC NATIONS CUP RUGBY TEST: Japan v Tonga

10.06.2012
Tonga v Japan in Tokyo (Pacific Nations Cup)

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)

Preview
For both these teams this match is crucial. Both lost their opening games on Tuesday. The equation is simple-lose today and you are definitely out of this competition! Win and you have a slim chance of squeaking in.

Japan will need all the support they can get

Will the inclusion of veteran Ryan Nicholas make the difference for Japan.
Image thanks to zimbio.com

Tonga lost narrowly to Samoa on Tuesday. They will want to improve on that performance. Image thanks to features.rr.com

Last Five Encounters
21.09.2011 Tonga 31-18 in Whangarei (World Cup, Pool A)
09.07.2011 Japan 28-27 in Suva (Pacific Nations Cup)
26.06.2010 Japan 26-23 in Apia (Pacific Nations Cup)
27.06.2009 Japan 21-19 in Lautoka (Pacific Nations Cup)
15.06.2008 Japan 35-13 in Sendai (Pacific Nations Cup)

Tonga last defeated Japan in Japan in 2002. They won 41-29 at Kumaguya in a friendly rugby test match.

Japan Last Five
05.06.2012 v Fiji L 19-25 in Nagoya (Pacific Nations Cup)
19.05.2012 v Hong Kong W 67-0 in Tokyo (Asia Five Nations)
12.05.2012 v Korea W 52-8 in Seoul (Asia Five Nations)
05.05.2012 v United Arab Emirates W 106-3 in Fukuoka (Asia Five Nations)
28.04.2012 v Kazakhstan W 87-0 in Almaty (Asia Five Nations)

Tonga Last Five
05.06.2012 v Samoa L 18-20 in Nagoya (Pacific Nations Cup)
01.10.2011 v France W 19-14 in Wellington (World Cup, Pool A)
21.09.2011 v Japan W 31-18 in Whangarei (World Cup, Pool A)
14.09.2011 v Canada L 20-25 in Whangarei (World Cup, Pool A)
09.09.2011 v New Zealand L 10-41 in Auckland (World Cup, Pool A)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Tonga 12th, Japan 14th

IRB Ranking Points
Tonga 76.63, Japan 70.45

Prediction: Tonga by 5 points

Teams

JAPAN

15		Ayumu Goromaru	Yamaha
14		Toshiaki Hirose (Capt.)	Toshiba
13		Ryan Nicholas	Suntory
12		Harumichi Tatekawa	Kubota
11		Hirotoki Onozawa	Suntory
10		Kosei Ono	Suntory
9		Atsushi Hiwasa	Stade Français, France
8		Hendrik Tui *	Panasonic
7		Takamichi Sasaki	Suntory
6		Yuta Mochizuki	Toshiba
5		Hitoshi Ono	Toshiba
4		Shinya Makabe	Suntory
3		Hiroshi Yamashita	Chugoku Electric Power
2		Takeshi Kizu	Kobe Steel
1		Yusuki Nagae	Chugoku Electric Power
16		Ryuhei Arita	Coca Cola
17		Kensuke Hatakeyama	Suntory
18		Shoji Ito	Kobe Steel
19		Takashi Kikutani	Toyota Verblitz
20		Jun Fujii	Toshiba
21		Tomohiro Senba	Toshiba
22		Yasunori Nagatomo	Suntory
		HEAD COACH: Eddie Jones

* New test cap

TONGA

15		Viliami Iongi	Llanelly Scarlets, Wales
14		Siale Piutau	Otago Highlanders, New Zealand
13		Alipate Fatafehi	Lyon, France
12		Sefa Vaka	Toyota Shokki, Japan
11		Alaska Taufa	Akita, Japan
10		Kurt Morath	Kubota, Japan
9		Taniela Moa (Capt.)	Pau, France
8		Viliami Ma’afu	Glasgow Warriors, Scotland
7		Sione Vaiomounga	Toloa Old Boys
6		Steven Mafi	Leicester Tigers, England
5		Joseph Tuineau	Montpellier, France
4		Joshua Afu	Carcarsson, France
3		Kisi Pulu	Perpignan, France
2		Ilaisa Maasi	Counties Manukau, New Zealand
1		Tevita Mailau	Auckland, New Zealand
16		Viliami Pola	South Canterbury, New Zealand
17		Sila Puafisi	Counties Manukau, New Zealand
18		Paula Kaho	Canberra Vikings RFC, Australia
19		Osaiasi Pepa Kolomatangi	Counties Manukau, New Zealand
20		Thomas Palu	Municipal Timisovava, Romania
21		Mafileo Kefu	Dax, France
22		Edmond Paea	E Suburbs RFC, Sydney, Australia
		HEAD COACH: Toutai Kefu (Interim)