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Japan make five changes for Costa Rica World Cup match

DOHA: Japan made five changes from their team that beat Germany in their World Cup opener as they face Costa Rica on Sunday.Attackers Ritsu Doan, who came on and scored against Germany, Yuki Soma and Ayase Ueda come into the starting line-up as Japan look to take a big step toward the knockout round.Right-back Miki Yamane replaces the injured Hiroki Sakai, while fit-again midfielder Hidemasa Morita comes in for Ao Tanaka.Costa Rica make only two changes to the team that started the campaign with a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Spain in Group E.Teenage winger Jewison Bennette and defender Carlos Martinez drop to the bench, with Gerson Torres and Kendall Waston replacing them.Starting line-ups:Japan (4-2-3-1)Shuichi Gonda; Miki Yamane, Kou Itakura, Maya Yoshida (captain), Yuto Nagatomo; Wataru Endo, Hidemasa Morita; Ritsu Doan, Daichi Kamada, Yuki Soma; Ayase UedaCoach: Hajjime MoriyasuCosta Rica (5-3-2)Keylor Navas; Keysher Fuller, Oscar Duarte, Francisco Calvo, Bryan Oviedo, Kendall Waston; Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda, Gerson Torres; Anthony Contreras, Joel CampbellCoach: Luis Fernando Suarez (COL)Referee: Michael Oliver (ENG)

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Jones again blames himself for England woes as patience grows thin

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Eddie Jones defends credentials as England flop against Springboks

Eddie Jones defended his credentials after he watched England produce a rudderless display to end a difficult 2022 with a 27-13 loss to South Africa at Twickenham. Tries from Kurt-Lee Arendse and Eben Etzebeth either side of half-time helped the Springboks ease to a comfortable victory in west London with Faf de Klerk adding an 11-point haul while Damian Willemse kicked two drop goals. World champions South Africa finished with 14 men after Thomas du Toit's 61st-minute red card for a no arms tackle on Luke Cowan-Dickie but Henry Slade's late score was all England could muster during a drab finale to the Autumn Nations Series. It meant Jones' side suffered another defeat, their sixth from 12 Tests in the calendar year, which is their worst run since 2008. The Springboks' dominance across the pitch was reminiscent of their 2019 World Cup final triumph and, despite England going backwards since their runners-up showing in Japan, their Australian head coach insisted they could have a "really good go" at next year's tournament in France. "We want to win. We don't want to get beat by a big score to South Africa and don't want to have the worst record since 2008 so it is a problem but I accept full responsibility for that," Jones said. "Obviously on results we are not happy but I feel like we are building a really good base to have a really good go at the World Cup, a really good go. "A number of young players got great experience today and they'll come back better players for that. We've got other players coming back to form, some of our more senior players and we're not far away. "We need to develop consistently. Test match rugby is all about consistency."

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Japan Sport News

Japan make five changes for Costa Rica World Cup match

Twickenham win just not enough for Boks to haul in All Blacks in World Rugby rankings

Cameron Smith wins Australian PGA Championship for third time

Doan to start for Japan, Costa Rica make two changes

Qatar World Cup: Germany face crunch match against Spain; Belgium and Croatia also in action

World Cup 2022: What to expect on Day 8

Jones again blames himself for England woes as patience grows thin

Eddie Jones defends credentials as England flop against Springboks