Arizona Tribune - Japan give Haangana debut for France 'forward battle' in steamy Tokyo

Japan take on the French in the Nations Championship on Saturday following a respectable 36-20 defeat to Ireland, after opening their campaign with a home win over Italy.

Jones made six changes to the team that started against Ireland in Newcastle, Australia, including a completely different front row.

Haangana comes in to win his first cap at the age of 27, while fellow debutants Izi Sword and Shunsuke Uenobo take their places on the bench.

Rain is forecast for the game at Tokyo's National Stadium, with high humidity and temperatures around 30C.

Jones said he wanted "to pick a pack that could beat France in an eight-on-eight contest".

"We've picked a bit of a bigger back row this week, with a view of that," he said.

"Given the likely conditions, where it's going to be hot and humid and rain, it will be a forward battle.

"I think we've got the men in there to do the job for us," he added.

Sojiro Otsuka, Hayate Era and Keijiro Tamefusa form the revamped front row.

"We decided to start with them, and the other boys will finish," said Jones.

"From those six players in the front row, we'll get a fantastic 80-minute effort."

Samisoni Tua replaces the injured Yuya Hirose at inside centre, while wing Kippei Ishida returns at the expense of Taira Main.

University student fly-half Ryunosuke Ito keeps his place and will win his third cap alongside scrum-half Naoto Saito.

Captain Warner Dearns said the game could be decided from set pieces.

"They have big, powerful forwards, and they can attack from wide with their backs," he said.

"If we can win at set pieces, it will be a good chance for us."

Japan (15-1):

Takuro Matsunaga; Kazuma Ueda, Dylan Riley, Samisoni Tua, Kippei Ishida; Ryunosuke Ito, Naoto Saito; Jack Cornelsen, Ben Gunter, Esei Haangana; Warner Dearns (capt), Harry Hockings; Keijiro Tamefusa, Hayate Era, Sojiro Otsuka

Replacements: Kenji Sato, Takato Okabe, Izi Sword, Michael Stolberg, Michael Leitch, Tiennan Costley, Taira Main, Shunsuke Uenobo

H.Thompson--AT