Japan v USA
USA look for share of the honours against Japan
Scrum.com
November 21, 2008
Michael Leitch of Japan avoids a tackle by Kazakhstan's player during their match at the IRB Rugby world cup Sevens 2009 Asian qualifier match in Hong Kong on October 4, 2008.
Japan coach John Kirwan has opted to give Michael Leitch his first Test start © Getty Images
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Japan take on the USA at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday with the hope of completing a 2-0 series victory over the Eagles.

Following last weekend's 29-19 defeat at the hands of the Cherry Blossoms in Nagoya USA coach Scott Johnson has urged his side to build on the positives of that performance.

"When we communicate and organize ourselves we can play some pretty good footy," Johnson said. "We had some excellent moments in the first game. Now we need to grow on that, put the mistakes behind us and learn how to get better as a team. We have the individual talent, but now we need to bring out the team talent."

The team Johnson has chosen for the match is fairly similar to the line-up for last weekend's clash. Brian Lemay will get a chance to start at tighthead prop and John VanderGiessen and Junior Sifa are back in the starting line-up at lock and inside centre, respectively. In addition, Courtney Mackay will likely get a chance to see some time at lock from his reserve position.

"It's critical that the entire team see the game and its result from a shared perspective," Johnson added. "This last week has not been the best I've seen of these players. I think we dipped a little bit mid-week and came back to life somewhat today.

"I expect to see tremendous effort from a handful of young players if they want to be included in the Eagle pool going forward. I've seen that kind of effort from some of the younger players on tour already and the selection for the second match was very difficult. In the end, I have to weigh what is best for the team in the long run and not just the result on Saturday.

"I'm looking specifically at a couple of positions to see if my choice in players was the right decision. This is a turning point for some of these guys and I want to give them the chance to lead."

Coach John Kirwan made three changes to the Japan side - Hitoshi Ono returns to the second row at the expense of Luke Thompson, Michael Leitch makes his first walk-on start in the back row, and Bryce Robins moves from the bench to outside centre.

While Thompson stays in the match 22, there is no room in the squad for Hajime Kiso or Koji Taira, both of whom started in last week's 29-19 victory.

"Taira and Tommo were carrying injuries," said Kirwan. "They probably could have played tomorrow but Ono and Bryce are 100 percent. There is now a lot of pressure internally on players to play. And this is the type of competitiveness we are trying to create in the team."

Kirwan had particular praise for Leitch, who despite getting a yellow card, made an impressive debut when he came on last week as a second-half substitute.

"Leitch brings an added dimension to our attack and showed enough confidence as a young man that he can handle the situation," Kirwan said.

The victory in Nagoya was just the fourth time Japan had beaten the Eagles in 17 matches and Kirwan is under no illusions that the visitors will be all out for revenge.

"The U.S. will be 50 percent better," he said. "So we need to be the same. Not everyone played to their level last week. We can be better and are expecting that. We need to be consistent."

There are four uncapped players in the 22. Masato Toyoda and Piei Mafileo make their first appearances in a Japan match-day squad, and they are joined on the bench by Naoki Kawamata and Masakazu Irie - neither of whom was used as a replacement last week.

The side will be lead for the second time by Takashi Kikutani. "We are very happy with Kiku," Kirwan said. "He used the other leaders around him and led by example. Let's hope we can all finish with another good result."

Japan: Kaoru Matsushita (Yamaha Jubilo), Kosuke Endo (Toyota Verblitz), Bryce Robins (NEC Green Rockets), Ryan Nicholas (Suntory Sungoliath), Koji Tomioka (Yamaha Jubilo), Shaun Webb (World Fighting Bull), Fumiaki Tanaka (Sanyo Wild Knights), Hisateru Hirashima (Kobelco Steelers), Yusuke Aoki (Suntory Sungoliath), Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory Sungoliath), Hitoshi Ono (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Toshizumi Kitagawa (Toyota Verblitz), Michael Leitch (Tokai University), Takashi Kikutani (Toyota Verblitz, captain), Ryu Koliniasi Holani (Sanyo Wild Knights)

Replacements: Naonori Mizuyama (NEC Green Rockets), Naoki Kawamata (Sanyo Wild Knights), Luke Thompson (Kintetsu Liners), Masato Toyoda (Toyota Verblitz), Masakazu Irie (Sanyo Wild Knights), Piei Mafileo (Nihon University)

USA: Chris Wyles (Saracens), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz), Paul Emerick (Overmach Parma), Junior Sifa (Middleton), Gavin DeBartolo (Eastern Suburbs), Mike Hercus (IBM), Mike Petri (NYAC), Mike MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie), Mark Crick (Potomac Athletic Club), Brian Lemay (Boston Irish Wolfhounds), John VanderGiessen (Denver Barbarians), Hayden Smith (Saracens), Inaki Basauri (Agen), Todd Clever (Xerox Lions, captain), Pat Quinn (Denver Barbarians)

Replacements: Joseph Welch (Cal), Matekitonga Moeakiola (Unattached), Courtney Mackay (Auckland Development), J.J. Gagiano (University of Cape Town), Chad Erskine (Rotherham), Thretton Palamo (Biarritz), Valenese Malifa (Belmont Shore)

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)

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