France vs Japan Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2024 Autumn Internationals
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We have another highly entertaining match in store on Saturday as France take on Japan at the Stade de France in Paris
Start date/time: Saturday 9th November, 2024, UK – 8:10pm / US ET – 3:10pm / US PT – 12:10pm
How to watch on tv: UK – TNT Sports 2 / US – Peacock
How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Peacock
France Form: Les Bleus look to sign 2024 off on positive note
France have had a challenging year on and off the pitch but they will look to end 2024 in a positive manner in their remaining internationals. With plenty going on off the pitch, they have had some good results and will see this as a good opportunity to impress their fans as they return to the venue where they were knocked out of the Rugby World Cup a year ago for the first time.
LAST FIVE: LWWWW
Japan form: Visitors aim to push hosts all the way
Japan went all the way to the final of the Pacific Nations Cup before losing in the final to Fiji, but there were plenty of positive for boss Eddie Jones to take. Their matches continue to be high-scoring as they play a really attractive style of rugby, which naturally does not always go in their favour. They have two tough internationals against France and England to end their year and they will want to put in two good showings.
LAST FIVE: LLWWW
France Team News: Dupont returns after Olympic glory
Fresh off winning the gold medal in the Paris Olympics with his nation, Antoine Dupont returns to captain Les Bleus this weekend. That will provide them with a major boost as they look to get back on track following a turbulent time. With trio Melvyn Jaminet, Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou unavailable for disciplinary reasons and Romain Ntamack out due to injury, Dupont’s return is timely and they will look to him for inspiration.
Line-up: 15 Leo Barre, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Emilien Gailleton, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Antoine Dupont (c), 8 Gregory Alldritt, 7 Alexandre Roumat, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Tevita Tatafu, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Mickael Guillard, 20 Paul Boudehent, 21 Maxime Lucu, 22 Matthieu Jalibert, 23 Gael Fickou
Japan Team News:Six changes for Eddie Jones’ men
Head coach Eddie Jones makes six changes from the team that lost to Fiji 41-17 in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup final in September. Among those coming into the side are centre Siosaia Fifita, flanker Kanji Shimokawa, and winger Tomoki Osada and they will look to Naoto Saitō for inspiration as he is the one player that plays his rugby in France.
Line-up: 15 Malo Tuitama, 14 Jone Naikabula, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Siosaia Fifita, 11 Tomoki Osada, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa (c), 9 Naoto Saito; 8 Faula Makisi, 7 Kazuki Himeno, 6 Kanji Shimokawa, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Epineri Uluiviti, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Mamoru Harada, 1 Takato Okabe
Replacements: 16 Kenta Masuoka, 17 Yukio Morikawa, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Amato Fakatava, 20 Tevita Tatafu, 21 Shinobu Fujiwara, 22 Yusuke Kajimura, 23 Takuro Matsunaga
France vs Japan Prediction
This may not be the competitive match that many would have hoped for but it will certainly be entertaining. Both teams play a lovely style of Rugby and even though Japan know that will likely lead to a heavy loss, they will focus on their attacking play and trying to put on a show.
And that they will do. Their matches have been full of points in recent times, and if they come away with scoring 15-20 points, they will be pleased with that.
Unfortunately, it likely means France will have scored 50+ but it should at least be good to watch. The bookmakers have got the handicap pretty spot on here we feel but if we had to lean one way or another, it would be with France to win by 34 points or more.
In the Stade de France, they will want to put on a show and we fully expect them to rack up the points and hammer Eddie Jones’ men.
France vs Japan Tip: France to win -33.5 points