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Captain Michael Leitch states Japan are all set to inspire the host nation as they ready to take on Russia from Friday’s Rugby World Cup opener.
Japan conquer against Samoa South Africa and the USA from the 2015 championship missing out in the eight.
“We’ve got the chance to inspire Japan again. We’ve trained well, prepared well and this is Japan’s best World Cup in history,” said Leitch, 30.
Row Amanaki Mafi and wing Kenki Fukuoka will miss the match for Japan.
Both picked up accidents in the heavy defeat by South Africa earlier this month, with Fukuoka, scorer of all 21 tries in 34 Tests, suffering a calf injury and Mafi hurting his shoulder.
Russia coach Lyn Jones, a former Wales Ospreys and international boss, has comprised Sale prop Valery Morozov one of two players that play their club rugby outside of Russia, in his starting XV.
Second row Andrei Ostrikov, that transferred to Grenoble at the end of the season, is the other.
Former Northampton wing Vasily Artemyev, who plays for Krasny Yar, captains the side.
Leitch says that the focus on the Western group is he has undergone with all the Brave Blossoms.
“That is no ordinary turnout,” he told a packed media conference.
“I’m so nervous I’ve been making a variety of mistakes in training – there is so many people so many cameras. But I am very proud to be part of the World Cup and to be captain of this Japan rugby team.”
The game will be staged at the close 50,000-capacity Tokyo Stadium, using the opening ceremony previous kick-off of the tournament.
Japan beat Russia November from the teams’ latest meeting and also have been set the goal of making a first quarter-final by trainer Jamie Joseph.
Japan trainer Jamie Joseph:”I never read Japanese newspapers but I’ve never really thought us to be the favourites for this game.
“I would say we’re even going into this Test match and when we don’t play our best we’re going to struggle.
“The group has ready as well as ever before and now we look forward to Friday night”
Japan: Tupou; Matsushima, Lafaele Lemeki; Tamura Inagaki, Horie, Valu; Van der Walt, Moore; Leitch, Labuschagne, Himeno.
Replacements: Sakate Ji-won, Thompson, Tui Matsuda, Yamanaka
Russia: Artemyev Ostroushko, Gerasimov, Golosnitskiy; Kushnarev, Dorofeev; Morozov Gotovtsev Fedotko Gadzhiev, Vavilin
Replacements: Matveev, Polivalov, Bitiev Sychev, Perov, Gaisin, Sozonov
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