Lappies Labuschagne and Wimpie van der Walt have been named in Japan’s starting lineup for Saturday’s crunch match against Samoa in Toyota.

Coach Jamie Jospeh has made four changes to his team following their impressive 19-12 win over Ireland.

In the back division, wing Lomano Lemeki starts in place of William Tupou, who drops out of the match 23 altogether.

Up front, Michael Leitch returns to the loose trio in the injury-enforced absence of Amanaki Mafi. The South African-born Labuschagne retains the captaincy despite Leitch’s inclusion.

Van der Walt comes in to partner James Moore in the second row and in a direct swap Atsushi Sakate starts at hooker, with Shots Horie providing cover off the bench. 

Japan – 15 Ryohei Yamanaka, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Lomano Lemeki, 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 8 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Pieter Labuschagne (c), 6 Michael Leitch, 5 James Moore, 4 Wimpie van der Walt, 3 Jiwon Koo, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Keita Inagaki.
Subs: 16 Shots Horie, 17 Isileli Nakajima, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Uwe Helo, 20 Hendrik Tui, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Kenki Fukuoka.

Photo: Ashley Western/MB Media/Getty Images