Despite the heat and the Covid, which came to disrupt Japan's preparation, the Brave Blossoms will be ready to face France, assured Friday the pillar Keita Inagaki, who explains that he loses "five kilos with each training".
In Aichi, where the Blues will challenge Japan on Saturday, the temperature exceeds 35 degrees and the humidity will approach 70% at kick-off, complicating the game all the more.
đŻđ”đ«đ· Your #XVdeFranceâïž
First match of the Summer Tour, Saturday July 2 at 8 a.m. on @TF1!
When you wake up â°đ#NeFaisonsXV #JAPFRA pic.twitter.com/1uYrNxtg9S
â France Rugby (@FranceRugby) June 30, 2022
"I can't fight the climate," smiled Keita Inagaki at a press conference.
" I'm drinking some water.
Not just during games.
I drink a lot of water.
I lose five kilos with each workout!
It will be hot on Saturday⊠but it will be the same for France.
Fortunately, there will be
waterbreaks
during the match, âadded the pillar (32 years old, 45 caps.)
In addition to the heat, the pandemic has also come to play spoilsport: hooker Shota Horie, like scrum half Naoto Saito and full-back Ryuji Noguchi tested positive for Covid on Thursday.
And the opening half Takuya Yamasawa, announced holder, had to forfeit for "suspicion of Covid", specified the Japanese Rugby Federation to AFP.
âThere's no problem,â Inagaki tempered, âif someone is absent, there's someone else to replace them.
We prepare to face any situation.
There is no confusion in the teamâ.
The XV of France must face Japan twice, on July 2 and 9.
The composition of Japan against France:
Yamanaka - Van den Heever, Riley, Nakano, Fifita - (o) Lee, (m) Shigeno - Gunter, Tatfu, Leitch - Cornelsen, Vanderwalt - Valu, Sakate (cap.), Inagaki
Subs: Hashimoto, Morikawa, Kakinaga, Dearns, Makisi, Nakajima, Gates, Takahashi
