20 Mar 2012

New Japan coach to encourage attacking style

6:21 am on 20 March 2012

Japan's new coach Eddie Jones is vowing to play attacking rugby after unveiling a young, mostly homegrown 30-strong squad as the Brave Blossoms aim for a fifth straight Asian Five Nations title.

Japan, who have lifted the trophy four straight times since its inception in 2008, will play Kazakhstan away on April the 28th in their opening match of the 2012 edition.

Former Wallabies coach Jones says he had selected the 30 players to win the Asian crown and pave the way for Japan to enter the world's top 10 by the 2015 World Cup in England.

The squad includes 14 uncapped players and just one foreigner in New Zealand flanker Michael Leitch.