Japan Vs Argentina: Santiago Carreras Chosen As Argentina’s Fly-Half For Crucial World Cup Game
- Santiago Carreras returns for Pumas in crucial World Cup game.
Santiago Carreras has been chosen as Argentina’s fly-half for their crucial World Cup Pool D meeting with Japan.
Argentina or Japan will take second spot behind England, and they meet on Sunday to decide which team will head through to the World Cup last eight.
Carreras replaces Nicolas Sanchez, who made his 100th appearance for Argentina in the 59-5 victory over Chile.
Prop Francisco Gomez Kodela returns to the XV for his first start since the opening defeat against England.
Indeed, Argentina head coach Michael Cheika makes 11 changes following the win over Chile last week, with only Guido Petti, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez and Lucio Cinti retaining their places.
Kremer and Gonzalez are the only two players to have started every Pumas match at this World Cup.
By contrast, Japan head coach Jamie Joseph makes only one change to the side that beat Samoa 28-22, with Siosaia Fifita replacing Jone Naikabula on the left wing.
Eight of the Japan XV – Amato Fakatava, Keita Inagaki, Jiwon Gu, Jack Cornelsen, Michael Leitch, Rikiya Matsuda, Kotaro Matsushima, and Ryoto Nakamura – will have started every game in Pool D.
A draw in this game could be enough to secure second place for either Japan or Argentina, depending on whether either earns a bonus point and Samoa’s result against England, who have already secured first place in Pool D.
In the unlikely event that both get try-scoring bonus points in a draw, Argentina will finish second on points difference.
Line-ups
Japan: Lomano Lemeki; Kotaro Matsushima, Dylan Riley, Ryoto Nakamura, Siosaia Fifita; Rikiya Matsuda, Naoto Saito; Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie, Jiwon Gu, Jack Cornelsen, Amato Fakatava, Michael Leitch, Pieter Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno.
Replacements: Atsushi Sakate, Craig Millar, Asaeli Ai Valu, Warner Dearns, Amanaki Saumaki, Yutaka Nagare, Ryohei Yamanaka, Jone Naikabula.
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez.
Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Pedro Rubiolo, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Moroni.
Match officials
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Touch judges: Paul Williams, James Doleman
TMO: Brendon Pickerill
