2022 France rugby union tour of Japan

Last updated

2022 France rugby union tour of Japan
Coach(es) Fabien Galthié
Tour captain(s) Charles Ollivon
Summary
PWDL
Total
02020000
Test match
02020000
Opponent
PWDL
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
2 2 0 0
Tour chronology
Previous tour Australia 2021
Next tour Argentina 2024

In July 2022, France played a two-test series against Japan as part of the 2022 mid-year rugby union tests. The first test was played at Toyota Stadium in Aichi on 2 July, followed by the second test at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on 9 July. [1]

Contents

Coming into the series, France were ranked in second place in the World Rugby Rankings, while Japan sat eight places below in tenth. [2] The two nations last faced each other in a test match during 2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, which ended up in a 23-23 draw. [3]

Fixtures

Date and timeVenueHomeScoreAway
2 July 2022, 15:00 JST (UTC+09) Toyota Stadium, Toyota Japan  Flag of Japan.svg23–42Flag of France.svg  France
9 July 2022, 14:50 JST (UTC+09) Japan National Stadium, Tokyo Japan  Flag of Japan.svg15–20Flag of France.svg  France

Squads

France

Among the starting 15 French players, 2 of them earned their first caps and 4 more had single-digit caps. [4] French coach intended to give test experience to the fringe players. [5]

Notes: 1 On 23 June 2022, Dorian Aldegheri withdrew from the squad following a thigh injury, while Aymeric Luc and Max Spring were on standby, being COVID-19 positive like assistant coaches Shaun Edwards and Laurent Labit. [6] On 25 June 2022, Luc and Spring tested negative and joined the rest of the team in Japan. [7]

Head coach: Flag of France.svg Fabien Galthié

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Pierre Bourgarit Hooker (1997-09-12) 12 September 1997 (age 26)5 Flag of France.svg La Rochelle
Peato Mauvaka Hooker (1997-01-10) 10 January 1997 (age 27)14 Flag of France.svg Toulouse
Christopher Tolofua Hooker (1993-12-31) 31 December 1993 (age 30)7 Flag of France.svg Toulon
Dorian Aldegheri 1 Prop (1993-08-04) 4 August 1993 (age 30)8 Flag of France.svg Toulouse
Demba Bamba Prop (1998-03-17) 17 March 1998 (age 25)23 Flag of France.svg Lyon
Sipili Falatea Prop (1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 (age 26)2 Flag of France.svg Clermont
Jean-Baptiste Gros Prop (1999-05-29) 29 May 1999 (age 24)19 Flag of France.svg Toulon
Thomas Laclayat Prop (1997-10-02) 2 October 1997 (age 26)0 Flag of France.svg Oyonnax
Matis Perchaud Prop (2002-09-17) 17 September 2002 (age 21)0 Flag of France.svg Bayonne
Dany Priso Prop (1994-01-02) 2 January 1994 (age 30)14 Flag of France.svg La Rochelle
Thibaud Flament Lock (1997-04-29) 29 April 1997 (age 26)7 Flag of France.svg Toulouse
Thomas Jolmès Lock (1995-10-08) 8 October 1995 (age 28)0 Flag of France.svg Bordeaux
Thomas Lavault Lock (1999-05-03) 3 May 1999 (age 24)0 Flag of France.svg La Rochelle
Rémi Picquette Lock (1995-02-23) 23 February 1995 (age 28)0 Flag of France.svg La Rochelle
Swan Rebbadj Lock (1995-01-15) 15 January 1995 (age 29)3 Flag of France.svg Toulon
Dylan Cretin Back row (1997-05-04) 4 May 1997 (age 26)18 Flag of France.svg Lyon
Ibrahim Diallo Back row (1998-01-23) 23 January 1998 (age 26)1 Flag of France.svg Racing 92
Matthias Haddad Back row (2001-03-10) 10 March 2001 (age 22)0 Flag of France.svg La Rochelle
Sekou Macalou Back row (1995-04-20) 20 April 1995 (age 28)7 Flag of France.svg Stade Français
Charles Ollivon (c) Back row (1993-05-11) 11 May 1993 (age 30)23 Flag of France.svg Toulon
Yoan Tanga Back row (1996-11-29) 29 November 1996 (age 27)0 Flag of France.svg Racing 92
Selevasio Tolofua Back row (1997-05-31) 31 May 1997 (age 26)1 Flag of France.svg Toulouse
Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer Back row (1997-06-13) 13 June 1997 (age 26)0 Flag of France.svg Bordeaux
Baptiste Couilloud Scrum-half (1997-07-22) 22 July 1997 (age 26)8 Flag of France.svg Lyon
Nolann Le Garrec Scrum-half (2002-05-14) 14 May 2002 (age 21)0 Flag of France.svg Racing 92
Maxime Lucu Scrum-half (1993-01-12) 12 January 1993 (age 31)7 Flag of France.svg Bordeaux
Louis Carbonel Fly-half (1999-02-04) 4 February 1999 (age 24)5 Flag of France.svg Toulon
Antoine Hastoy Fly-half (1997-06-04) 4 June 1997 (age 26)1 Flag of France.svg Pau
Matthieu Jalibert Fly-half (1998-11-06) 6 November 1998 (age 25)15 Flag of France.svg Bordeaux
Jules Favre Centre (1999-03-22) 22 March 1999 (age 24)0 Flag of France.svg La Rochelle
Louis Le Brun Centre (2002-02-22) 22 February 2002 (age 21)0 Flag of France.svg Castres
Yoram Moefana Centre (2000-07-18) 18 July 2000 (age 23)6 Flag of France.svg Bordeaux
Virimi Vakatawa Centre (1992-05-01) 1 May 1992 (age 31)30 Flag of France.svg Racing 92
Tani Vili Centre (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23)0 Flag of France.svg Clermont
Rémy Baget Wing (1997-07-27) 27 July 1997 (age 26)0 Flag of France.svg Bayonne
Matthis Lebel Wing (1999-03-25) 25 March 1999 (age 24)2 Flag of France.svg Toulouse
Damian Penaud Wing (1996-09-25) 25 September 1996 (age 27)32 Flag of France.svg Clermont
Enzo Reybier Wing (2002-04-04) 4 April 2002 (age 21)0 Flag of France.svg Oyonnax
Romain Buros Fullback (1997-07-31) 31 July 1997 (age 26)0 Flag of France.svg Bordeaux
Melvyn Jaminet Fullback (1999-06-30) 30 June 1999 (age 24)11 Flag of France.svg Perpignan
Aymeric Luc 1 Fullback (1997-10-14) 14 October 1997 (age 26)0 Flag of France.svg Toulon
Max Spring 1 Fullback (2001-03-15) 15 March 2001 (age 22)0 Flag of France.svg Racing 92

Japan

On 31 May, a 34-man squad was named for Japan's 2-test series against Uruguay and their 2-test series against France.

On 7 June, Yutaka Nagare withdrew from the squad due to injury and Toshiya Takahashi was called up as his replacement.

On 17 June, Craig Millar withdrew from the squad due to injury and Shogo Miura was called up as his replacement. Also called up were, Takayasu Tsuji, Wimpie van der Walt and Tevita Tatafu.

On 27 June, Kaito Shigeno joined up with the squad ahead of Japan's 2-test series against France replacing Toshiya Takahashi and Amanaki Saumaki also withdrew due to injury.

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Daigo Hashimoto Hooker (1994-01-28) 28 January 1994 (age 30)2 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Shota Horie Hooker (1986-01-21) 21 January 1986 (age 38)67 Saitama Wild Knights
Atsushi Sakate Hooker (1993-06-21) 21 June 1993 (age 30)28 Saitama Wild Knights
Asaeli Ai Valu Prop (1989-05-07) 7 May 1989 (age 34)21 Saitama Wild Knights
Keita Inagaki Prop (1990-06-02) 2 June 1990 (age 33)40 Saitama Wild Knights
Shinnosuke Kakinaga Prop (1991-12-19) 19 December 1991 (age 32)20 Tokyo Sungoliath
Yusuke Kizu Prop (1995-03-12) 12 March 1995 (age 28)4 Toyota Verblitz
Shogo Miura Prop (1995-06-08) 8 June 1995 (age 28)9 Toyota Verblitz
Yukio Morikawa Prop (1993-02-06) 6 February 1993 (age 30)0 Tokyo Sungoliath
Warner Dearns Lock (2002-04-11) 11 April 2002 (age 21)2 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Takayasu Tsuji Lock (1995-10-28) 28 October 1995 (age 28)0 Tokyo Sungoliath
Wimpie van der Walt Lock (1989-01-06) 6 January 1989 (age 35)19 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka
Sanaila Waqa Lock (1995-07-17) 17 July 1995 (age 28)1 Hanazono Kintetsu Liners
Jack Cornelsen Back row (1994-10-13) 13 October 1994 (age 29)7 Saitama Wild Knights
Masato Furukawa Back row (1996-12-06) 6 December 1996 (age 27)3 Toyota Verblitz
Ben Gunter Back row (1997-10-24) 24 October 1997 (age 26)3 Saitama Wild Knights
Lappies Labuschagné Back row (1989-01-11) 11 January 1989 (age 35)13 Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay
Michael Leitch Back row (1988-10-07) 7 October 1988 (age 35)73 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Faulua Makisi Back row (1997-01-20) 20 January 1997 (age 27)3 Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay
Tevita Tatafu Back row (1996-01-02) 2 January 1996 (age 28)10 Tokyo Sungoliath
Daiki Nakajima Scrum-half (1996-03-25) 25 March 1996 (age 27)3 Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Naoto Saito Scrum-half (1997-08-26) 26 August 1997 (age 26)7 Tokyo Sungoliath
Kaito Shigeno Scrum-half (1990-11-21) 21 November 1990 (age 33)14 Toyota Verblitz
Hayata Nakao Fly-half (1995-01-20) 20 January 1995 (age 29)0 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Takuya Yamasawa Fly-half (1994-09-21) 21 September 1994 (age 29)4 Saitama Wild Knights
Lee Seung-sin Fly-half (2001-01-13) 13 January 2001 (age 23)1 Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Yusuke Kajimura Centre (1995-09-13) 13 September 1995 (age 28)2 Yokohama Canon Eagles
Shogo Nakano Centre (1997-06-11) 11 June 1997 (age 26)3 Tokyo Sungoliath
Dylan Riley Centre (1997-05-02) 2 May 1997 (age 26)5 Saitama Wild Knights
Siosaia Fifita Wing (1998-12-20) 20 December 1998 (age 25)7 Hanazono Kintetsu Liners
Jone Naikabula Wing (1994-03-12) 12 March 1994 (age 29)0 Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Taichi Takahashi Wing (1996-05-24) 24 May 1996 (age 27)0 Toyota Verblitz
Gerhard van den Heever Wing (1989-04-13) 13 April 1989 (age 34)1 Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay
Rakuhei Yamashita Wing (1991-01-30) 30 January 1991 (age 33)0 Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Ryuji Noguchi Fullback (1995-07-15) 15 July 1995 (age 28)14 Saitama Wild Knights
Ryohei Yamanaka Fullback (1988-06-22) 22 June 1988 (age 35)22 Kobelco Kobe Steelers

Matches

First test

2 July 2022
15:00 JST (UTC+09)
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg23–42Flag of France.svg  France
Try: Tatafu 13' c
Fifita 80+1' c
Con: Shigeno (1/1) 14'
Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 80+2'
Pen: Shigeno (1/1) 14'
Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 26', 54'		Try: Penaud (2) 3' c, 58' c
Lebel 43' c
Moefana 61' m
Bourgarit 69' c
Con: Jaminet (4/5) 4', 45', 59', 70'
Pen: Jaminet (3/3) 18', 29', 54'
Toyota Stadium, Toyota [8]
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)

Notes:

Second test

9 July 2022
14:50 JST (UTC+09)
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg15–20Flag of France.svg  France
Try: Yamanaka (2) 12' m, 40' c
Con: Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 40+1'
Pen: Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 19'		Try: Lebel 9' c
Couilloud 71' c
Con: Lucu (1/1) 10'
Jalibert (1/1) 72'
Pen: Lucu (1/1) 44'
Jalibert (1/1) 61'
National Stadium, Tokyo [8]
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Notes:

  • Max Spring (France) made his international debut.
  • France equals his record winning streak of 10 consecutive international test matches.

Climatic conditions

The hot weather had been a major concern. At kick off of the first match, it recorded 34.5°C in Toyota. [9] 24 hours before the first match, Toyota city recorded a historic high 39.8°C. [10] As a result, three water breaks were put in place during each half of the match. [11] Just after kick off of the second match, it recorded 31.5°C in Tokyo. [12] [13] Water breaks were also in place.

Condolences to Shinzo Abe

Before the second match, the 57,000 crowd observed a minute's silence for the assassination of Shinzo Abe. After the match, French captain Charles Ollivon offered a French jersey with the name "Abe Shinzo" printed. Abe was a keen supporter of Japanese rugby. He visited the Japan dressing room during the 2019 Rugby World Cup and invited the team to the prime minister's office. [13] [14]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Japan's Brave Blossoms to host France in two July tests". The Japan Times . 1 March 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  2. ↑ "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  3. ↑ "Japan to host France for two Tests in July". Sky Sports . 28 February 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  4. ↑ 吉田宏 (2022-07-04). "1.5軍の世界2位フランスに敗戦 "手の内隠した"ラグビー日本代表、W杯への収穫とは". The Answer– via Yahoo Japan.
  5. ↑ "France rally again to win second Test against Japan in Tokyo". Irish Times. 2022-07-09.
  6. ↑ Heagney, Liam (23 June 2022). "Shaun Edwards didn't fly to Japan with France on Wednesday night". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  7. ↑ Mathieu, Bastien (25 June 2022). "Aymeric Luc et Max Spring négatifs". FFR (in French). Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Le Japon en juillet, l'Afrique du Sud en novembre : le programme des Bleus en 2022 !". 13 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "名古屋 2022年7月2日（１０分ごとの値）". Japan Meteorological Agency. 2022-07-02.
  10. ↑ "汗３リットル、体重５キロ減 炎天下のラグビー代表戦に涼しい顔の訳". Mainichi Shimbun. 2022-07-02.
  11. ↑ "10分おきのウォーターブレイク。「気候条件について不平不満を述べる者はいません。しかし、安全の考慮は重要」。フランス代表、最善の準備を経て第1テストマッチへ". Rugby Republic. 2022-07-02.
  12. ↑ "東京 2022年7月9日（１０分ごとの値）". Japan Meteorological Agency. 2022-07-09.
  13. 1 2 松瀬学 (2022-07-11). "「安倍さんのご供養のためにも勝ちたかった」。強豪フランスに惜敗したラグビー日本代表のリーチマイケル". Yahoo Japan. Archived from the original on 2022-07-11.
  14. ↑ "Japan rugby players remember Abe after emotional France Test". Channel News Asia. 2022-07-10.
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