Samoa v Japan: Rugby World Cup Pool B preview
Last Updated: 03/10/15 2:20pm
Japan boss Eddie Jones has made five changes to his team for Saturday's match with Samoa at Stadium MK.
Kensuke Hatakeyama replaces Hiroshi Yamashita at tighthead, with Yamashita dropping to the bench.
Second-row Hitoshi Ono replaces Justin Ives, who starts on the bench. Ryu Koliniasi Holani starts at No 8 with Amanaki Lelei Mafi, who was carried off against Scotland, named as one of two other No 8s among the replacements.
Kosei Ono comes in at fly-half with Harumichi Tatekawa moving to inside centre. Kotaro Matsushima switches wings to accommodate Akihito Yamada at the expense of Kenki Fukuoka, who drops out of the 23.
Karne Hesketh, the man who scored Japan's dramatic late try in their stunning win over South Africa, starts on the bench.
Meanwhile, Samoa lock Kane Thompson will finally get to play in his third Rugby World Cup after completing a two-match ban.
Thompson was suspended for punching Australia hooker Saia Fainga'a in the warm-up match against the Barbarians in August.
His recall is one of five changes to the team that were crushed 46-6 by South Africa last weekend.
Hooker Ole Avei and No 8 Fafili Levave are the other changes to the pack, while Tusi Pisi starts at fly-half and centre Johnny Leota makes his World Cup debut.
Pisi needs 17 points to become Samoa's highest point-scorer.
Samoa and Japan will send out their most experienced Rugby World Cup teams. Samoa's XV has 346 caps, with Japan's tally of 615 surpassing the team that defeated South Africa.
Samoa: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 Paul Perez, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali'I; 1 Sakaria Taualofo, 2 Ole Avei, 3 Census Johnston, 4 Teofilo Paulo, 5 Kane Thompson, 6 Ofisa Treviranus (c), 7 TJ Ioane, 8 Fafili Levave.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Viliamu Afatia, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Jack Lam, 20 Vavae Tuilagi, 21 Vavao Afemai, 22 Mike Stanley, 23 Rey Lee-Lo.
Japan: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Akihito Yamada, 13 Male Sau, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Kotaro Matsushima, 10 Kosei Ono, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 1 Keita Inagaki, 2 Shota Horie, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 4 Luke Thompson, 5 Hitoshi Ono, 6 Michael Leitch (c), 7 Michael Broadhurst, 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani,
Replacements: 16 Takeshi Kizu, 17 Masataka Mikami, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Justin Ives, 20 Amanaki Mafi, 21 Hendrik Tui, 22 Atsushi Hiwasa, 23 Karne Hesketh