Leitch leads Japan into Bok battle

Michael Leitch will captain Japan in their World Cup opener against the Springboks in Brighton on Saturday.

With 574 caps in the starting lineup, coach Eddie Jones has named Japan's most experienced Test side ever. 

No 5 lock Hitoshi Ono is the Brave Blossoms' most-capped player with 94 Tests, while inside centre Craig Wing has played the fewest with 10. 

Japan – 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Akihito Yamada, 13 Male Sau, 12 Craig Wing, 11 Kotaro Matsushima, 10 Kosei Ono, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Hendrik Tui, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Michael Leitch (c), 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Masataka Mikami.
​Subs: 16 Takeshi Kazu, 17 Keita Inagaki, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Shinya Makabe, 20 Amanaki Mafi, 21 Atsushi Hiwasa, 22 Harumichi Tatekawa, 23 Karne Hesketh.

World Cup teams

Photo: Paul Taylor/AFP Photo

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