2022 France rugby union tour of Japan

Coach(es)| Fabien Galthié
Tour captain(s)| Charles Ollivon
Summary| | P|  W|  D|  L

|
|
|

Total| | 02|  02|  00|  00

|
|
|

Test match| | 02|  02|  00|  00

|
|
|

Opponent| | P|  W|  D|  L

|
|
|

Japan| | 2|  2|  0|  0

|
|
|

Tour chronology
Previous tour| Australia 2021

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]

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[edit]

Date and time  | Venue  | Home  | Score  | Away

|
|
|
|

2 July 2022, 15:00 JST (UTC+09)  | Toyota Stadium, Toyota | Japan | 23–42 |  France
9 July 2022, 14:50 JST (UTC+09)  | Japan National Stadium, Tokyo | Japan | 15–20 |  France

## Squads[edit]

### France[edit]

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:  Fabien Galthié

Player  | Position | Date of birth (age)  | Caps  | Club/province

|
|
|
|

Pierre Bourgarit | Hooker |  (1997-09-12) 12 September 1997 (age 26) | 5  |  La Rochelle
Peato Mauvaka | Hooker |  (1997-01-10) 10 January 1997 (age 27) | 14  |  Toulouse
Christopher Tolofua | Hooker |  (1993-12-31) 31 December 1993 (age 30) | 7  |  Toulon
Dorian Aldegheri1 | Prop |  (1993-08-04) 4 August 1993 (age 30) | 8  |  Toulouse
Demba Bamba | Prop |  (1998-03-17) 17 March 1998 (age 25) | 23  |  Lyon
Sipili Falatea | Prop |  (1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 (age 26) | 2  |  Clermont
Jean-Baptiste Gros | Prop |  (1999-05-29) 29 May 1999 (age 24) | 19  |  Toulon
Thomas Laclayat | Prop |  (1997-10-02) 2 October 1997 (age 26) | 0  |  Oyonnax
Matis Perchaud | Prop |  (2002-09-17) 17 September 2002 (age 21) | 0  |  Bayonne
Dany Priso | Prop |  (1994-01-02) 2 January 1994 (age 30) | 14  |  La Rochelle
Thibaud Flament | Lock |  (1997-04-29) 29 April 1997 (age 26) | 7  |  Toulouse
Thomas Jolmès | Lock |  (1995-10-08) 8 October 1995 (age 28) | 0  |  Bordeaux
Thomas Lavault | Lock |  (1999-05-03) 3 May 1999 (age 24) | 0  |  La Rochelle
Rémi Picquette | Lock |  (1995-02-23) 23 February 1995 (age 28) | 0  |  La Rochelle
Swan Rebbadj | Lock |  (1995-01-15) 15 January 1995 (age 29) | 3  |  Toulon
Dylan Cretin | Back row |  (1997-05-04) 4 May 1997 (age 26) | 18  |  Lyon
Ibrahim Diallo | Back row |  (1998-01-23) 23 January 1998 (age 26) | 1  |  Racing 92
Matthias Haddad | Back row |  (2001-03-10) 10 March 2001 (age 22) | 0  |  La Rochelle
Sekou Macalou | Back row |  (1995-04-20) 20 April 1995 (age 28) | 7  |  Stade Français
Charles Ollivon (c) | Back row |  (1993-05-11) 11 May 1993 (age 30) | 23  |  Toulon
Yoan Tanga | Back row |  (1996-11-29) 29 November 1996 (age 27) | 0  |  Racing 92
Selevasio Tolofua | Back row |  (1997-05-31) 31 May 1997 (age 26) | 1  |  Toulouse
Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer | Back row |  (1997-06-13) 13 June 1997 (age 26) | 0  |  Bordeaux
Baptiste Couilloud | Scrum-half |  (1997-07-22) 22 July 1997 (age 26) | 8  |  Lyon
Nolann Le Garrec | Scrum-half |  (2002-05-14) 14 May 2002 (age 21) | 0  |  Racing 92
Maxime Lucu | Scrum-half |  (1993-01-12) 12 January 1993 (age 31) | 7  |  Bordeaux
Louis Carbonel | Fly-half |  (1999-02-04) 4 February 1999 (age 24) | 5  |  Toulon
Antoine Hastoy | Fly-half |  (1997-06-04) 4 June 1997 (age 26) | 1  |  Pau
Matthieu Jalibert | Fly-half |  (1998-11-06) 6 November 1998 (age 25) | 15  |  Bordeaux
Jules Favre | Centre |  (1999-03-22) 22 March 1999 (age 24) | 0  |  La Rochelle
Louis Le Brun | Centre |  (2002-02-22) 22 February 2002 (age 21) | 0  |  Castres
Yoram Moefana | Centre |  (2000-07-18) 18 July 2000 (age 23) | 6  |  Bordeaux
Virimi Vakatawa | Centre |  (1992-05-01) 1 May 1992 (age 31) | 30  |  Racing 92
Tani Vili | Centre |  (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23) | 0  |  Clermont
Rémy Baget | Wing |  (1997-07-27) 27 July 1997 (age 26) | 0  |  Bayonne
Matthis Lebel | Wing |  (1999-03-25) 25 March 1999 (age 24) | 2  |  Toulouse
Damian Penaud | Wing |  (1996-09-25) 25 September 1996 (age 27) | 32  |  Clermont
Enzo Reybier | Wing |  (2002-04-04) 4 April 2002 (age 21) | 0  |  Oyonnax
Romain Buros | Fullback |  (1997-07-31) 31 July 1997 (age 26) | 0  |  Bordeaux
Melvyn Jaminet | Fullback |  (1999-06-30) 30 June 1999 (age 24) | 11  |  Perpignan
Aymeric Luc1 | Fullback |  (1997-10-14) 14 October 1997 (age 26) | 0  |  Toulon
Max Spring1 | Fullback |  (2001-03-15) 15 March 2001 (age 22) | 0  |  Racing 92

### Japan[edit]

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.

* Head Coach: Jamie Joseph

Player  | Position | Date of birth (age)  | Caps  | Club/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[edit]

### First test[edit]

2 July 2022
15:00 JST (UTC+09)

Japan | 23–42|  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)

Team details

|  |  |

|

FB | 15 | Ryohei Yamanaka
RW | 14 | Gerhard van den Heever |  |  51'
OC | 13 | Dylan Riley
IC | 12 | Shogo Nakano |  |  63'
LW | 11 | Siosaia Fifita
FH | 10 | Takuya Yamasawa
SH | 9 | Kaito Shigeno |  |  51'
N8 | 8 | Tevita Tatafu (c) |  |  51'
BF | 7 | Ben Gunter
OF | 6 | Michael Leitch
RL | 5 | Jack Cornelsen
LL | 4 | Wimpie van der Walt |  |  59'
TP | 3 | Asaeli Ai Valu |  |  70'
HK | 2 | Atsushi Sakate |  |  70'
LP | 1 | Keita Inagaki |  |  51'
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Daigo Hashimoto |  |  70'
PR | 17 | Yukio Morikawa |  |  51'
PR | 18 | Shinnosuke Kakinaga |  |  70'
LK | 19 | Warner Dearns |  |  59'
FL | 20 | Faulua Makisi |  |  51'
SH | 21 | Daiki Nakajima |  |  51'
FH | 22 | Lee Seung-sin |  |  63'
WG | 23 | Taichi Takahashi |  |  51'
Coach:
Jamie Joseph
|  |

|

FB | 15 | Melvyn Jaminet
RW | 14 | Damian Penaud
OC | 13 | Virimi Vakatawa |  |  63'
IC | 12 | Yoram Moefana
LW | 11 | Matthis Lebel
FH | 10 | Matthieu Jalibert |  |  70'
SH | 9 | Maxime Lucu |  |  59'
N8 | 8 | Yoan Tanga |  |  63'
OF | 7 | Dylan Cretin
BF | 6 | Charles Ollivon (c)
RL | 5 | Thomas Jolmès |  |  44'
LL | 4 | Thibaud Flament
TP | 3 | Demba Bamba |  |  47'
HK | 2 | Peato Mauvaka |  |  50' 73'
LP | 1 | Jean-Baptiste Gros |  |  47'
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Pierre Bourgarit |  |  50' 73'
PR | 17 | Dany Priso |  |  47'
PR | 18 | Sipili Falatea |  |  47'
LK | 19 | Thomas Lavault |  |  44'
FL | 20 | Selevasio Tolofua |  |  63'
FL | 21 | Sekou Macalou |  |  63'
SH | 22 | Baptiste Couilloud |  |  59'
FH | 23 | Antoine Hastoy |  |  70'
Coach:
Fabien Galthié

Assistant referees:
Chris Busby (Ireland)
Shuhei Kubo (Japan) (Replaced Mike Adamson 2 days out from the game)
Television match official:
Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Notes:

* Thomas Jolmès, Yoan Tanga and Thomas Lavault (France) made their international debuts.
* France winning-streak of 9 consecutive test matches is their best series since 1937.

### Second test[edit]

9 July 2022
14:50 JST (UTC+09)

Japan | 15–20|  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)

Team details

|  |  |

|

FB | 15 | Ryohei Yamanaka
RW | 14 | Gerhard van den Heever
OC | 13 | Dylan Riley
IC | 12 | Shogo Nakano |  |  58'
LW | 11 | Siosaia Fifita
FH | 10 | Lee Seung-sin |  |  65'
SH | 9 | Naoto Saito |  |  65'
N8 | 8 | Jack Cornelsen
BF | 7 | Ben Gunter
OF | 6 | Michael Leitch
RL | 5 | Sanaila Waqa |  |  57'
LL | 4 | Warner Dearns |  |  67'
TP | 3 | Asaeli Ai Valu |  |  61'
HK | 2 | Atsushi Sakate (c) |  |  58'
LP | 1 | Keita Inagaki
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Shota Horie |  |  58'
PR | 17 | Yukio Morikawa
PR | 18 | Yusuke Kizu |  |  61'
LK | 19 | Takayasu Tsuji |  |  67'
FL | 20 | Tevita Tatafu |  |  57'
SH | 21 | Kaito Shigeno |  |  65'
FH | 22 | Yu Tamura |  |  65'
CE | 23 | Shane Gates |  |  58'
Coach:
Jamie Joseph
|  |

|

FB | 15 | Max Spring
RW | 14 | Damian Penaud |  |  64'
OC | 13 | Virimi Vakatawa
IC | 12 | Yoram Moefana
LW | 11 | Matthis Lebel
FH | 10 | Matthieu Jalibert
SH | 9 | Maxime Lucu |  |  50'
N8 | 8 | Yoan Tanga
OF | 7 | Charles Ollivon (c)
BF | 6 | Dylan Cretin |  |  43'
RL | 5 | Thomas Jolmès |  |  43'
LL | 4 | Thibaud Flament
TP | 3 | Demba Bamba |  |  46'
HK | 2 | Peato Mauvaka |  |  43'
LP | 1 | Jean-Baptiste Gros |  |  46'
Replacements:
HK | 16 | Pierre Bourgarit |  |  43'
PR | 17 | Dany Priso |  |  46'
PR | 18 | Sipili Falatea |  |  46'
LK | 19 | Thomas Lavault |  |  43'
FL | 20 | Ibrahim Diallo |  |  43'
FL | 21 | Sekou Macalou |  |  64'
SH | 22 | Baptiste Couilloud |  |  50'
FH | 23 | Antoine Hastoy
Coach:
Fabien Galthié

Assistant referees:
Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Chris Busby (Ireland)
Television match official:
Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Notes:

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

## Climatic conditions[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

* 2022 mid-year rugby union tests

## References[edit]

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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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.