Team news ahead of the internationals that are taking place the week before the November international window starts, involving big games for Japan and USA, and a trial game for Canada.
Saturday 1 November
Japan v New Zealand Maori 
Venue: Noevir Stadium, Kobe
Kickoff: 14:00 (local), 18:00 (New Zealand), 05:00 (GMT)
Kickoff: 14:00 (local), 18:00 (New Zealand), 05:00 (GMT)
For Japan:
A few changes from the team that beat Italy. Hooker Shota Horie, flanker Justin Ives, number 8 Ryu Holani, wing Kenki Fukuoka (all injured) are replaced in the starting lineup by Kizu, Tui, Hopgood and Matsushima. Scrum half Fumiaki Tanaka is also away with the Barbarians and is replaced by Hiwasa. In midfield, Tamura and Tatekawa also swap around.
Further injuries in the squad to the likes of Yoshikazu Fujita (in the squad but not 100% fit), Kyosuke Horie, Michael Broadhurst and Craig Wing amongst others means there is also a very fresh look on the bench that includes four uncapped players. Both the young replacement props Keita Inagaki and Shinnosuke Kakinaga, back row Amanaki Lelei Mafi and winger Karne Hesketh are in line to wear the Japan shirt at senior level for the first time (although they won't win their first cap as it's an uncapped game). Also on the bench there is a return for diminutive fly half Kosei Ono who missed June for personal reasons.
Last year against the USA the Maori All Blacks looked far from invincible, and although Japan's opponents haven't lost since to international opposition 2003 the Cherry Blossoms should believe they are in with a chance. With the injuries, several players have good chances to stake a claim for bigger roles in the Japan side in the future.
Further injuries in the squad to the likes of Yoshikazu Fujita (in the squad but not 100% fit), Kyosuke Horie, Michael Broadhurst and Craig Wing amongst others means there is also a very fresh look on the bench that includes four uncapped players. Both the young replacement props Keita Inagaki and Shinnosuke Kakinaga, back row Amanaki Lelei Mafi and winger Karne Hesketh are in line to wear the Japan shirt at senior level for the first time (although they won't win their first cap as it's an uncapped game). Also on the bench there is a return for diminutive fly half Kosei Ono who missed June for personal reasons.
Last year against the USA the Maori All Blacks looked far from invincible, and although Japan's opponents haven't lost since to international opposition 2003 the Cherry Blossoms should believe they are in with a chance. With the injuries, several players have good chances to stake a claim for bigger roles in the Japan side in the future.
Starting XV: 15 Ayumu Goromaru; 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Male Sa'u, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Akihito Yamada; 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Atsushi Hiwasa; 1 Masataka Mikami, 2 Takeshi Kizu, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama; 4 Luke Thompson, 5 Shoji Ito; 6 Hendrik Tui, 7 Michael Leitch (c), 8 Hayden Hopgood.
Replacements: 16 Keita Inagaki, 17 Hiroki Yuhara, 18 Shinnosuke Kakinaga; 19 Shinya Makabe, 20 Amanaki Lelei Mafi; 21 Keisuke Uchida, 22 Kosei Ono, 23 Karne Hesketh.
For New Zealand Maori:
Starting XV: 15 Robbie Robinson; 14 Matt Proctor, 13 Jason Emery, 12 Charlie Ngatai (c), 11 James Lowe; 10 Ihaia West, 9 Chris Smylie; 1 Chris Eves, 2 Ash Dixon, 3 Mike Kainga; 4 Tom Franklin, 5 Hayden Triggs; 6 Blade Thompson, 7 Sean Polwart, 8 Elliot Dixon.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Nick Barrett; 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Dan Pryor; 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Nehe Milner-Skudder.
USA v New Zealand 
Vene: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Kickoff: 14:30 (local time), 08:30 +1d (New Zealand), 19:30 (GMT)
For USA:
Mike Tolkin has named a team with no surprises in it. The only change from the win over Canada is a return at loosehead prop for Eric Fry and fly half Adam Siddall returning after time out with a concussion. Northampton number 8 Cam Dolan misses out through a knee injury sustained back in England.
Playing in front of a record 61,000 sell out crowd, the Eagles will be eager to put in a performance to try and win over some fans to rugby, even if they don't come close to winning.
Starting XV: 15 Chris Wyles; 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Seamus Kelly, 12 Andrew Suniula, 11 Brett Thompson; 10 Adam Siddall, 9 Mike Petri; 1 Eric Fry, 2 Phil Thiel, 3 Olive Kilifi; 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Hayden Smith; 6 Todd Clever (c), 7 Scott LaValla, 8 Danny Barrett.Mike Tolkin has named a team with no surprises in it. The only change from the win over Canada is a return at loosehead prop for Eric Fry and fly half Adam Siddall returning after time out with a concussion. Northampton number 8 Cam Dolan misses out through a knee injury sustained back in England.
Playing in front of a record 61,000 sell out crowd, the Eagles will be eager to put in a performance to try and win over some fans to rugby, even if they don't come close to winning.
Replacements: 16 Tom Coolican, 17 Nick Wallace, 18 Mate Moeakiola; 19 Tai Tuisamoa, 20 Lou Stanfill; 21 Shalom Suniula, 22 Folau Niua, 23 Troy Hall.
For New Zealand:
As was expected after a long Rugby Championship campaign and big upcoming games with Wales and England, the All Blacks have rotated their team for this game. Nevertheless, the All Blacks rarely put out a side that is lacking in quality.
The major news is that of the return of Sonny Bill Williams back from Rugby League, who will combine again with Aaron Cruden who returns after sitting out the most recent few games. They one of several changes from the Bledisloe Cup game 2 weeks ago, with only Israel Dagg, Cory Jane and Kieran Read keeping their starting places, and a front 5 with less international experience getting a run out against weaker opponents. On the bench, Dan Carter notably returns after missing the Rugby Championship through injury, whilst Julian Savea will hope to boost his superb try scoring ratio with a cameo late on.
Starting XV: 15 Israel Dagg; 14 Cory Jane, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Charles Piutau; 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 TJ Perenara; 1 Joe Moody, 2 Nathan Harris, 3 Charlie Faumuina; 4 Jeremy Thrush, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu; 6 Victor Vito, 7 Sam Cane, 8 Kieran Read (c).
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ben Franks; 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Liam Messam; 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Dan Carter, 23 Julian Savea.
As was expected after a long Rugby Championship campaign and big upcoming games with Wales and England, the All Blacks have rotated their team for this game. Nevertheless, the All Blacks rarely put out a side that is lacking in quality.
The major news is that of the return of Sonny Bill Williams back from Rugby League, who will combine again with Aaron Cruden who returns after sitting out the most recent few games. They one of several changes from the Bledisloe Cup game 2 weeks ago, with only Israel Dagg, Cory Jane and Kieran Read keeping their starting places, and a front 5 with less international experience getting a run out against weaker opponents. On the bench, Dan Carter notably returns after missing the Rugby Championship through injury, whilst Julian Savea will hope to boost his superb try scoring ratio with a cameo late on.
Starting XV: 15 Israel Dagg; 14 Cory Jane, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Charles Piutau; 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 TJ Perenara; 1 Joe Moody, 2 Nathan Harris, 3 Charlie Faumuina; 4 Jeremy Thrush, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu; 6 Victor Vito, 7 Sam Cane, 8 Kieran Read (c).
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ben Franks; 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Liam Messam; 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Dan Carter, 23 Julian Savea.
RFU Championship XV v Canada 
Vene: Sixways Stadium, Worcester
Kickoff: 15:15 (local time/GMT), 11:15 (Toronto)
For RFU Championship XV:
This is the second year of the RFU Championship XV after they played the New Zealand Maori two years ago at Doncaster. The squad was assembled from all 12 of the Championship clubs in the league, but the Jersey player pulled out meaning only players from 11 will make the game.
Coached by Martin Haag, it combines youth along with older experience players, but there aren't any of the league's most notable and biggest names with not a single international in the side. However in Miles Mantella, Tom Cruse and Mark Bright there are 3 players from last season's RFU Championship Dream XV. With the side being made from so many clubs, the scratch nature of it makes it quite unpredictable as to how it will match up and how cohesive they will be.
Starting XV: 15 Jack Tovey; 14 Michael Keating, 13 Greg King, 12 Will Owen, 11 Miles Mantella; 10 Lawrence Rayner, 9 Tom Kessell; 1 Ryan Bower, 2 Tom Cruse, 3 Michael Holford; 4 James Percival (c), 5 Darren Barry; 6 Marco Mama, 7 Nick Fenton-Wells, 8 Mark Bright.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Lee Imiolek, 18 Max Maidment; 19 James Phillips, 20 Ryan Burrows; 21 Jonny Arr, 22 Kieran Hallett, 23 Dougie Flockhart.
For Canada:
With various players missing either injured or still with their clubs as the game is outside the release window, Canada are fielding mostly a domestic based side with just some extra players from the Championship involved. It is some way off being full strength, with their best players such as Tyler Ardron, Jeff Hassler, DTH van der Merwe, Jamie Cudmore, Jebb Sinclair all missing and who should bolster the side for the proper internationals. However the likes of James Pritchard and Hubert Buydens (who captains in the absence of Ardron) should at least make it a bit of a step up on the Canada 'A' side that played last month.
Even though the side's progress as a whole will be better gauged on the games where something nearer to the full side is playing, the game should offer a decent chance for coach Kieran Crowley to assess his depth and a few of the second string players.
Starting XV: 15 James Pritchard; 14 Sean Duke, 13 Ciaran Hearn, 12 Nick Blevins, 11 Conor Trainor; 10 Patrick Parfrey, 9 Gordon McRorie; 1 Hubert Buydens (c), 2 Ray Barkwill, 3 Andrew Tiedemann; 4 Tyler Hotson, 5 Brett Beukeboom; 6 Kyle Gilmour, 7 Nanyak Dala, 8 John Moonlight.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Hamilton, 17 Doug Wooldridge, 18 Jake Ilnicki; 19 Jon Phelan, 20 Seb Pearson; 21 Sean White, 22 Connor Braid, 23 Jordan Wilson-Ross.
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