Japan opens their Pacific Nations Cup account at home against Canada on Saturday. While the Brave Blossoms are playing for tournament glory and world ranking ahead of the World Cup draw, the stakes are higher for the Maple Leafs. A single bonus point – four tries scored or a loss by seven or less – would be enough to guarantee their place at Australia 2027.
Current World Ranking: 13 (72.29 points)
2025-07-12 – Japan 22, Wales 31 (Kobe)
2025-07-05 – Japan 24, Wales 19 (Kitakyushu)
2024-11-24 – England 59, Japan 14 (London)
2024-11-16 – Japan 36, Uruguay 20 (Chambéry)
2024-11-09 – France 52, Japan 12 (Paris)
Current World Ranking: 24 (59.52 points)
2025-08-22 – Canada 34, USA 20 (Calgary)
2025-07-18 – Canada 23, Spain 24 (Edmonton)
2025-07-12 – Canada 18, Belgium 25 (Edmonton)
2024-11-16 – Romania 35, Canada 27 (Bucharest)
2024-11-09 – Canada 14, Chile 44 (Bucharest)
 |
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Sena Kimura | Yota Kamimori |
| 2 | Hayate Era | Mamoru Harada |
| 3 | Shuhei Takeuchi | Kaijiro Tamefusa |
| 4 | Waisake Raratubua | Epineri Uluiviti |
| 6 | Ben Gunter | Michael Leitch |
| 7 | Kanji Shimokawa | Jack Cornelsen |
| 8 | Amato Fakatava | Faulua Makisi |
| 9 | Shinobu Fujiwara | Naoto Saito |
| 11 | Malo Tuitama | Halatoa Vailea |
| 12 | Charlie Lawrence | Shogo Nakano |
| 15 | Sam Greene | Ichigo Nakakusu |
|
IN | OUT |
| 5 | Mason Flesch | Evan Olmstead |
| 6 | Sion Parry | Tyler Ardron |
| 11 | Nic Benn | Isaac Olson |
| 12 | Spencer Jones | Noah Flesch |
| 15 | Shane O’Leary | Cooper Coats |
- Japan have dominated recent matches between the two sides with five straight wins over Canada… the Maple Leafs haven’t tasted victory over the Brave Blossoms since 2005
- after splitting the series against Wales in July, Eddie Jones has made comprehensive changes to his lineup with five players handed their first test start and four set for their test debuts
- Warner Dearns becomes the youngest captain for Japan at the age of just 23… the New Zealand-born lock is an imposing figure both in the set piece and the loose, and notably scored two tries against Canada when the two sides met in last year’s PNC… Dearns takes over the captaincy from Michael Leitch who is unavailable, while regular vice-captain Mamoru Harada is injured
- while the Brave Blossoms front row is on the smaller side, their second and back row makes up for it with an average size of 255lbs (116kg)
- Canada conceded 38 unanswered points to the Brave Blossoms to start their match a year ago, but finished with four tries scored… an identical result would be good enough to secure their place in the PNC Semi Finals and a ticket to the 2027 World Cup
- the Maple Leafs have bid adieu to star forwards Tyler Ardron and Evan Olmstead this week, both returning to their club sides in France… flyhalf Cooper Coats did not make the trip to Japan
- Shane O’Leary is set to win his 15th test cap six years since his last… O’Leary hasn’t played for Canada since the 2019 World Cup, coincidentally also in Japan
- Conor Young makes his first appearance of the year for Canada… the tighthead prop hasn’t played since damaging knee ligaments while playing for RFC Los Angeles against the Fijian Drua during the Major League Rugby preseason in February
Eddie Jones (Head Coach)
“We’ve got the youngest ever Captain for Japan and eight players with one cap or less in the team, so it’s a really young group. That’s exciting because when you’ve got a group of young players together, they can grow up and experience tough times and then really learn how to enjoy the victories when they come.”
Steve Meehan (Head Coach)
“The players delivered just about everything we asked of them against the United States, and we were proud to secure a significant win on home soil. Japan is a quality side, and we look forward to that challenge. The team has shown real effort and commitment in training in a competitive environment – a clear sign of the depth we’re building. Now it’s about execution against another higher-ranked opponent.”
Hot and sunny conditions are on the forecast, which could see fatigue setting in earlier in the second half. The Brave Blossoms typically place high value on quick ruck ball but are fielding larger back row forwards this year, which could give Canada’s lighter loose forward trio opportunities to win turnovers at the breakdown. Last week’s result will give the Maple Leafs confidence but their hosts are a clear step up in class from the misfiring Eagles. Japan are favorites in Sendai.
JAPAN
1 Sena Kimura, 2 Hayate Era, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 4 Waisake Raratubua, 5 Warner Dearns (capt.), 6 Ben Gunter, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 8 Amato Fakatava, 9 Shinobu Fujiwara, 10 Seung-Sin Lee, 11 Malo Tuitama, 12 Charlie Lawrence, 13 Dylan Riley, 14 Kippei Ishida, 15 Sam Greene
Replacements: 16 Kenji Sato, 17 Kenta Kobayashi, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Tiennan Costley, 20 Faulua Makisi, 21 Kenta Fukuda, 22 Yuya Hirose, 23 Tomoki Osada
CANADA
1 Cali Martinez, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Mason Flesch, 6 Sion Parry, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Matthew Oworu, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 Nic Benn, 12 Spencer Jones, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Josiah Morra, 15 Shane O’Leary
Replacements: 16 Jesse Mackail, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Conor Young, 19 Callum Botchar, 20 Matt Heaton, 21 Stephen Webb, 22 Noah Flesch, 23 Brenden Black
Date: Saturday, August 30
Venue: Yurtec Stadium, Sendai
Kickoff: 17:00 local (01:00 Pacific, 04:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 90°F (32°C), wind NW 7-10mph (11-17km/h)
Broadcasts: Paramount+ (USA), TSN 4 (Canada), RugbyPass TV
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistants: Jordan Way (Australia) & Damon Murphy (Australia)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
HEAD-TO-HEAD (26): Japan 16, Canada 8, Draw 2
2024-08-25 – Canada 28, Japan 55 (Vancouver)
2016-06-11 – Canada 22, Japan 26 (Vancouver)
2015-07-18 – Canada 6, Japan 20 (San Jose)
2014-06-07 – Canada 25, Japan 34 (Vancouver)
2013-06-19 – Japan 16, Canada 13 (Nagoya)
2011-09-27 – Canada 23, Japan 23 (Napier)
2009-11-21 – Japan 27, Canada 6 (Tokyo)
2009-11-25 – Japan 46, Canada 8 (Miyagi)
2007-09-25 – Canada 12, Japan 12 (Bordeaux)
2005-05-29 – Japan 10, Canada 15 (Tokyo)
