Japan vs France – Nations Championship 2026 Match Preview

Japan play France at the Tokyo National Stadium on Saturday, 18 July, 2026  to complete the first half of the new Nations Championship 2026 schedule.

Feature Photo Credit – Nations Championship

Japan have beaten Italy and lost to Ireland with a similar matchday squad competing in both games, but the biggest match will be this weekend; at least it will be played at a proper home ground for the Brave Blossoms, who are now ranked 11th in the world. If they manage to beat Les Bleus for the first time and other results go their way this weekend, they could enter the top ten in the world.

Fourth-ranked France, even without their strongest team, tested the All Blacks for 80 minutes and turned around a halftime deficit to defeat the Wallabies.

Japan have only once come close to defeating the French when they drew 23-23 in 2027, but France has won the other 7 Tests; however, the competitiveness of the Brave Blossoms team in the Championship has been encouraging. When they last met in 2024 in Paris, the hosts comfortably won 52-12; a record score between them.

In terms of the Nations Championship, Japan are fourth in the southern hemisphere standings. Not all of the stats are in their favour, but the Japanese tackle success rate is the best in the competition (84.5), and they average the most dominant tackles per match (12), while also having conceded the fewest points in the first two rounds.

Photo Credit – JRFU – Brave Blossoms vs Ireland – 2026 Nations Championship

Warner Dearns will again captain the side, which has several changes from the one that lost to Ireland. The entire starting front row has been changed. The loose trio also sees changes with Jack Cornelsen starting at No. 8 alongside Ben Gunter and Esei Haangana, who will make his debut.

The backline sees Kippe Ishida return on the left wing, while Yuya Hirose is replaced in the centres by Samisoni Tua. Fullback Matsunaga is the leading points scorer in the Nations Championship with 27 and has a 100% kick rate.

Among the reserves, Izi Sword and Shunsuke Uenobo could make their debuts.

France’s Fabien Galthié has also made several changes to the pack following last week’s victory over Australia, with an unchanged backline. Jefferson Poirot and Regis Montagne start in the front row, with Maxime Lamothe starting at hooker Mauvaka at hooker. Marko Gazzotti shifts to flank, and Alexandre Roumat start at No. 8.

This means the triple threat of the likes of Maxime Lucu, Romain Ntamack and Matthieu Jalibert will all start again after having a hand in seeing them beat the Wallabies last week. They have the most line-breaks per game (19) and have the best gain-line success (65.4%).

Paul Graou could earn his first cap off the bench while Grandidier Nkanang, a Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist, starts his second Test after scoring twice against the Wallabies in Brisbane.

France have won 7 out of their previous Tests in total, but have also lost two of the last four (Scotland and NZ). The results in the Nations Championship mean they are second in the northern hemisphere standings behind Ireland,

Photo Credit – Nations Championship

Match Permutations

• France are unable to improve their ranking if they win, but Les Bleus will drop two places to sixth if they lose by more than 15 points and Argentina and Scotland beat England and Fiji respectively.
• France will lose fourth place with a smaller margin of defeat if England beat Los Pumas.
• Japan can return to the top 10 for the first time since July 2023 if they dont lose, and Italy lose to Australia in Perth.
• The Brave Blossoms could go as high as ninth if they beat France and both Fiji and Italy lose.

Match Officials: Japan vs France –  Nations Championship

• Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
• Assistant Referee 1: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
• Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU)
• TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR)
• FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Japan Brave Blossoms Squad vs France – 2026 Nations Championship

You can see more about the squad selection here.

Image Credit – ATR

France Squad vs Japan – 2026 Nations Championship

Starting XV

15 Matthieu Jalibert, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Maxime Lucu (c), 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Marko Gazzotti, 6 Lenni Nouchi, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Regis Montagne, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot

Reserves:

16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Hugo Auradou, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Killian Tixeront, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Kalvin Gourgues

Image Credit – ATR

How To Watch the World Rugby Nations Championship 2026?

You can check with World Rugby Nations Championship 2026 about broadcast and streaming options in your region.

Nations Championship Rugby News 2026

• Japan vs Ireland – Nations Championship 2026 Match Preview.
• Brave Blossoms Beat Italy for The First Time Since 2018 to Open Nations Championship 2026.
• Brave Blossoms 2026 Home Tests and Venues Confirmed.
• Understanding The Nations Championship 2026.