Match Day Programme: Italy v Japan

The Azzurri will take on The Brave Blossoms in their final match of the Summer Nation Series. The game will be played at the Stadio Comunale Di Monigo, in Treviso on August 26th, 2023. Both teams will be looking for a win to close off their World Cup preparations. A win for either side will be a morale booster, coming from only one win in both of their last 5 games. A thrilling competition it will be.  Thank you for joining us, this is Ultimate Rugby Match Day! 

Fixture: Italy vs Japan 

Venue: Stadio Comunale Di Monigo 

Kickoff Time: 16:30 (GMT) 

Referee: Karl Dickson 

Head-to-head Played: 

Played: 6 

Japan Wins: 1 

Italy Wins: 5 

Draws: 0 

Biggest winning margin: 

Italy: 43 (June 2006) 

Japan: 3 (June 2014) 

Last Meeting: 16 June 2018 – Japan 22-25 Italy. 

Last 5 Domestic Results 

Italy 

W 57-7 (h) v Romania 

L 32-17 (a) v Ireland 

L 25-13 (a) v Scotland 

L 26-14 (a) v Scotland 

L 17-29 (h) v Wales 

Japan 

L 12-35 (h) v Fiji 

W 21-16 (h) v Tonga 

L 22-24 (h) Samoa 

L 27-41 (h) v New Zealand B 

L 35-17 (h) v France 

Team News: 

Italy: Italy have made four changes for their final World Cup warm-up game against Japan with scrum-half Stephen Varney (22) returning to the starting line up. Fullback maestro Ange Capuozzo starts on the wing. He gained 250 metres v Romania last weekend, which is the most by any player from a Tier One nation since Israel Dagg made 252 metres v Wales in June 2016. Paolo Garbisi is in the No.10 jersey and Italy will need plenty of direction from their playmaker.  

"The game against Japan will close the preparations for the World Cup by giving us further fundamental feedback towards the most important moment of the season," coach Kieran Crowley said. 

"We have prepared the game in the best possible way, and we want to close the warm-up games with a victory in front of our fans." 

Japan: Head coach Jamie Joseph said that Japan had “turned the page” ahead of their final World Cup warm up against Italy after a spate of red cards and injuries. Joseph welcomes back Michael Leitch to the starting line-up after the former captain served a two-match ban for being sent off against Samoa last month. Loose forward Pieter Labuschagne is still suspended after his red card in the loss to Fiji in Tokyo. 

Joseph said the dismissals had put “a different spin on players’ confidence” but he backed them to turn it around against the Italians. 

“I think we’ve had all of our bad luck – it’s all over, finished now,” the New Zealand-born coach said. 

“We’ve got some good luck coming. In terms of the condition of the team, physically we’re in a really good nick. 

“We’ve just got to start playing rugby now.”