• Rugby World Cup 2019: Yamanaka replaces injured Tupou for historic Japan quarter-final

    Ryohei Yamanaka will start for Japan against South Africa, with Jamie Joseph forced to make a single change for the quarter-final tie.
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    Jamie Joseph has made just one change heading into Japan’s first appearance in a Rugby World Cup quarter-final, as Ryohei Yamanaka returns to the fold.

    Full-back Yamanaka switched with William Tupou throughout the pool stage, with the latter starting against Scotland as the hosts secured their place in a World Cup knockout stage for the first time.

    However, Tupou suffered a head injury 51 minutes into the triumph over Gregor Townsend’s side and does not feature in the 23 for Sunday’s showdown with in-form South Africa.

    Yamanaka replaced Tupou against Scotland and the 31-year-old will start in Tokyo, with the only other changes coming among the replacements.

    Amanaki Lelei Mafi had not featured since going off against Ireland, but Joseph is able to welcome the number eight back into the squad.

    Wimpie van der Walt and Lomano Lemeki have been recalled to the bench, with Uwe Helu and Hendrik Tui missing out.

    Jiwon Koo had been a doubt after sustaining a rib injury against Scotland but has been passed fit to start.

    Kotaro Matsushima is tied with Wales’ Josh Adams at the top of the try scoring charts with five, and starts again at right wing, while the tournament’s leading points scorer Yu Tamura – he has 48 – is at fly half.

    Japan: Ryohei Yamanaka, Kotaro Matsushima, Timothy Lafaele, Ryoto Nakamura, Kenki Fukuoka, Yu Tamura, Yutaka Nagare; Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie, Jiwon Koo, Luke Thompson, James Moore, Michael Leitch, Pieter Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno.

    Replacements: Atsushi Sakate, Isileli Nakajima, Asaeli Ai Valu, Wimpie van der Walt, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Fumiaki Tanaka, Rikiya Matsuda, Lomano Lava Lemeki.

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