Japan Brave Blossoms vs New Zealand – Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2024 Preview

The Brave Blossoms square up for their toughest test match of 2024 when they face the All Blacks on Saturday 26 October 2024 at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama as part of the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup.

This will be the 6th time the two sides play each other and the All Blacks have won all five matches to date – the last encounter was the first time Japan kept New Zealand below 50 points in their 31-38 loss in Tokyo in October 2022.

Japan made the final of the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup in which they won three in a row (their first victories in 2024) before losing to the champions Fiji 17-41. Brave Blossoms Head coach Eddie Jones knows his side will need to be at its best to try to topple the All Blacks at home. The test is their final home game before they embark on their Europan tour and face France, Uruguay, and England.

Japan is captained by 60-test veteran Harumichi Tatekawa who starts at flyhalf and there are only four players who faced the All Blacks two years ago. Backrower Kazuki Himeno also returns to the side after a long injury layoff and there are six changes from that which began the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 final.

Jones continues to blood new players in 2024, and replacement prop Opeti Helu and back Takuro Matsunaga aboth could make their test debuts from the bench.

Eddie Jones said, “Whenever you play New Zealand, the first thing you’ve got to do is be prepared to take them on. Like any team in the world, you have to go at them and put them under pressure. The way we play, and in particular, with the way we attack, we can really put them under pressure with our collective speed. We intend to do that from the first minute.

When we don’t have the ball, which could be up to 50 per cent of the game, we need to be defending every moment, of every minute, of every play. We’ve got to be really aggressive and connected in our defence.”

For the All Blacks, who finished second in The Rugby Championship, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson & Dalton Papali’i were confirmed not to travel to Japan due to injury. Peter Lakai and Josh Lord joined the NZ squad instead. There are also seven All Blacks XV squad members who have travelled to Japan with the All Blacks as cover.

In the selected matchday squad, Patrick Tuipulotuwill captain the All Blacks for the first time, while Peter Lakai & Ruben Love could make their debut off the bench.

Following the test in Japan, NZ will play against England, Ireland and France, followed by Italy.

Several new laws (again) are also being trialled or continued in the end-of-year internationals. These include World Rugbywanting to crack down on players shielding teammates during high-ball situations, the “Dupont Law” (requiring players from in front of where a ball is kicked to retreat until they are put onside), the “croc roll” technique at breakdowns etc.

Jordan Way (Australia) is a match referee –  he recently was involved in fixtures in the Hong Kong China Rugby Premiership.

Match Permutations  –  Japan Brave Blossoms vs New Zealand (October 2024)

• NZ cannot improve their rating even of they win but they would drop below France to 4th if they lose to Japan.
• Japan will climb above Samoa and Georgia into 12th place of they beat the All Blacks for the first time.

Japan Brave Blossoms Squad vs All Blacks – Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2024

All Blacks Squad vs Japan – Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2024

How To Watch Japan Brave Blossoms vs New Zealand – Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2024

The match will be broadcast J Sports1 and via J Sports On-Demand, both live and via catch-up, as well as live on Nippon Television and via live streaming on Hulu.

International Rugby 2024