Japan's Shuhei Takeuchi is tackled by two Ireland players during a Nations Championship contest in Newcastle, Australia, on July 11. | AFP-JIJI
Jul 17, 2026
Japan and France are preparing for a heavyweight arm-wrestle in Tokyo on Saturday, with the heat and humidity set to turn their Nations Championship contest into a forwards’ battle.
The mercury is forecast to hover around 30 degrees Celsius in Tokyo, with the possibility of rain making a fast and accurate passing game even more unlikely.
Both teams have made wholesale changes to their front rows, as France arrives in Tokyo fresh from a 42-26 demolition of Australia in Brisbane.
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