Faltering Japan look for Asia Rugby Championship jump-start

Japan will use the Asia Rugby Championship to try to regain some lost momentum since last year’s Rugby World Cup heroics, beginning with Saturday’s home opener against South Korea.

The Brave Blossoms, who sensationally won three pool matches at the 2015 RWC in England, have drafted in several players from Tokyo-based Super Rugby side the Sunwolves for a game they will be expected to win comfortably.

Openside flanker Taiyo Ando, involved in last weekend’s 36-28 victory over the Jaguares, will start alongside Sunwolves squad-mates Kengo Kitagawa, Futoshi Mori, Kazuhiko Usami, Ryohei Yamanaka and Hajime Yamashita.

Japan will be led by interim coach Ryuji Nakatake as the Asian champions look to rule by committee before former All Black Jamie Joseph takes over in August, once he sees out his Highlanders contract in New Zealand.

Before that Sunwolves coach Mark Hammett will take the national 15s helm for three Tests in June, including a pair of home Tests against Scotland – an arrangement former Japan coach Eddie Jones, who is now in charge of England, has blasted as “crazy”.

Momentum has stalled for Japan since their dazzling England 2015 effort, which included a stunning 34-32 upset of two-time world champions South Africa – widely regarded as the biggest shock in the tournament’s history.