Former Lions and Bulls loose forward Lappies Labuschagne has been chosen in Japan’s starting XV for Friday’s World Cup warm-up against the Springboks.
Labuschagne is one of two South African-born players in the starting XV - the other being Pretoria-born winger Kotaro Matsushima.
Having beaten South Africa in Brighton at the last World Cup, Japan coach Jamie Joseph knows his team has the odds stacked against them again - despite having a 100 percent record against their visitors.
The former All Blacks loose forward expects the Boks to go at them hard up front, telling Kyodo Times: “We are under no illusions how tough it will be.
FAMILIAR: Japan flanker Lappies Labuschagne. Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix.
“We understand we are playing probably the biggest pack in world rugby and that it will be physically very challenging.
“But it’s the type of game we need going into a physical Rugby World Cup.”
With his opposite number Rassie Erasmus having chosen a strong team for the assignment, Joseph believes it is to show respect for his team who has been improving on an annual basis.
Joseph adds: “It [the Springboks’ team] shows respect and it gives our players something to look forward to.
“I’ve faced a lot of questions this last week about if I think it’s a risky game before the World Cup but unless we play the best teams, we’ll never get a true measure of where we are.”
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/rugbyjp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rugbyjp pic.twitter.com/wULDybTRcs
— Japan Rugby (@JRFURugby)
Japan:
15 Will Tupou, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Kaito Shigeno, 8 Amanaki Lelei Mafi, 7 Lappies Labushagne, 6 Michael Leitch (captain), 5 Uwe Helu, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Jiwon Koo, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Keita Inagaki.
Replacements:
16 Takuya Kitade, 17 Isileli Nakajima, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 James Moore, 20 Kazuki Tokunaga, 21 Yutaka Nagare, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Ataata Moeakiola.