Japan XV have named their lineup to take on the Maori All-Blacks this Saturday. The lineup includes 3 Fijians in Dynaboars Lock Epeneri Uluiviti alongside Waisake Raratubua of the Steelers in his first representative match and at Flanker breakout player Vueti Tupou from the Blue Revs. It is also his first rep jersey at senior level.

It is just reward particularly for Raratubua and Tupou who both were exceptional this season. Both players only in their 2nd seasons have gone from strength to strength.

They both played 19 matches this season and coincidentally both scored 8 tries as well.

A breakout season by Tupou playing in all 19 games and scoring 8 tries including a couple right off the top shelf.

His stats don’t lie either with 827 metres made from 166 carries, nearly 5 metres per carry. 685 post contact metres are probably his most impressive with 4 try assists and an 80% tackle completion rate.