Japan vs France Preview & Prediction | 2026 Nations Championship | Round 3
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Japan are back in Tokyo as they look to follow up two strong displays against the current Six Nations champions, France.
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – RugbyPass TV
Japan team news: Mass alterations
Squad: 15 Takuro Matsunaga, 14 Kazuma Ueda, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Samisoni Tua, 11 Kippei Ishida, 10 Ryunosuke Ito, 9 Naoto Saito; 1 Sojiro Otsuka, 2 Hayate Era, 3 Keijiro Tamefusa, 4 Harry Hockings, 5 Warner Dearns, 6 Esei Ha'angana, 7 Ben Gunter, 8 Jack Cornelsen
Replacements: 16 Kenji Sato, 17 Takato Okabe, 18 Izi Sword, 19 Michael Stolberg, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Tiennan Costley, 22 Taira Main, 23 Shunsuke Uenobo
France team news: Changes in the scrum
Squad: 15 Matthieu Jalibert, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Maxime Lucu; 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 3 Regis Montagne, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 6 Lenni Nouchi, 7 Marko Gazzotti, 8 Alexandre Roumat
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Killian Tixeront, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Kalvin Gourgues
Japan vs France prediction
Japan have made a more-than-respectable start to the first ever Nations Championship, beating Italy in Tokyo before putting up a brave display in defeat to Ireland in Australia last weekend.
The Brave Blossoms were very much in that contest against the Irish, but conceded ten points late on to ultimately succumb to a 36-20 defeat.
France, meanwhile, staged an excellent second-half comeback in Brisbane last time out, scoring 30 unanswered points to defeat Australia 42-26.
Following their 34-32 defeat to New Zealand in their opener, the win against the Wallabies was hugely welcome and the current Six Nations champions will now expect to make it two wins out of three ahead of the four-month break in the tournament.
Japan have never tasted success against France, and it is unlikely to come here, but after a positive start to the tournament, as well as playing in their own capital, there is a belief that Eddie Jones' side can make life difficult for the visitors.
France should have too much in the end, but the hosts can keep the score respectable.
Japan vs France tip: Japan +23
