ISSUE 113 2019 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • 55Kotaro Matsushima
Position: Fullback
Club: Sunwolves
Age: 26
Four years ago, the name Ayumu Goromaru was on
the tip of the tongues of many in the rugby world,
the Japan fullback whose precision goalkicking
shot him to fame. Having struggled for form in the
intervening period, Goromaru has not been
included in the Japan squad, and Matsushima will
be the man who takes his place, barring injury.
He’s safe under the high ball and offers a potent
counter-attacking threat.Yu Tamura
Position: Stand-Off
Club: Sunwolves
Age: 30
With 56 Test matches under his belt, Yu Tamura is
one of Japan's most experienced players, and he
will be crucial to Japan's chances of performing at
their home competition. The Pacific Nations have
shown that Japan have a desire to play an
expansive brand of rugby, and at stand-off, Tamura
will be pivotal if the Cherry Blossoms are to impose
themselves on the more staunch members of their
World Cup opposition.We do Japan
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RUGBY WORLD CUP - TOP 10
ISSUE 116 2019 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • 55