mens
pacific-nations-cup
TOKYO: Japan coach Eddie Jones made three changes to the winning Brave Blossoms starting side USA Eagles 63-14 in Osaka, including a position change for the son of the Wallabies great, who will partner another Australian-born lock in the second row.
Jack Cornselsen scored a try as the starting number 8 in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 semi-final victory last weekend, but Saitama representative Panasonic Wild Knights moved into a tight five to decide the title.
Cornelsen will pack along with the former Australia U20 star Harry Hockings, who spent several seasons in Japan Rugby League One with Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath. Hockings is retained in the rush, while Michael Storberg moves to the bench.
Faulu Makisi impressed from the bench against the Eagles, and was rewarded with a place in the starting side. Makisi will start at number 8 for the Brave Blossoms, joining flanks Ben Gunter and Kanji Shimokawa in the loose forwards.
Sojiro Otsuka will pack forward alongside Mamoru Harada and Shuhei Takeuchi, with Kenji Sato among the players looking to provide cover and impact off the bench. Sena Kimura and Takumi Inaba are the other replacements in the front row.
Jones made one change in the back line, with Tomoko Osada on one wing. Osada is joined in the back three by Inoke Brua and Sam Greene, who scored more than 20 points in the semi-final triumph at Hanazono Rugby Stadium.
Yuya Hirose and Dylan Riley will link up again in the centers.
Japan will be up against the defending champions Fiji in the final of the Pacific Cup of Nations, which will be held at the Chichibunomiy Rugby Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday night. USA Eagles and Canada will also meet in a doubleheader, playing for third place.
The Japanese side take on Fiji in the PNC 2026 final
1. Sojiro Otsuka
2. Mamoru Harada
3. Shuhei Takeuchi
4. Jack Cornelsen
5. Harry Hockings
6. Ben Gunter
7. Kanji Shimokawa
8. Transfer the mask
9. Naoto Saito (c)
10. Ryunosuke Ito
11. Tomoki Osada
12. Yuya Hirose
13. Dylan Riley
14. Inoke Burua
15. Sam Greene
Substitutions
16. Kenji Sato
17. Sen Kimura
18. Takumi Inaba
19. Michael Stolberg
20. They all don’t match
21. Thiimagen Costley
22. Shinobu Fujiwara
23. Samison Tua