Head coach Eddie Jones says Japan are aiming to raise the bar as they go in search of back-to-back wins over Wales in Kobe on Saturday.

The Brave Blossoms claimed a 24-19 comeback victory in Kitakyushu last week – their first ever home win over Wales – and are now targeting consecutive wins over a tier-one nation for the first time. It was also Wales’ 18th straight defeat, the longest losing streak by a tier-one side in the professional era.

Jones named an inexperienced match-day 23, with four starters earning their second caps and four uncapped players on the bench.

Veteran loose forward Michael Leitch continues as captain after a standout performance in the first Test, while South African-born Dylan Riley starts again at outside centre.

Scrumhalf Naoto Saito, who helped Toulouse win the Top 14 title last month, returns to the run-on XV in place of Shinobu Fujiwara.

“Japan has never had a record of beating a top-tier team back-to-back,” said Jones. “But the more important thing for us is that we know we can play better.

“We played well in the first game – we know we’re going to have to play with more intensity, more effort, execute our plays.”

Jones made five changes to the starting line-up, including starts for backs Ichigo Nakakusu and Halatoa Vailea, who both scored off the bench on debut last week.

Wales, meanwhile, have handed a first start to flyhalf Dan Edwards, who replaces Sam Costelow for his third Test cap.

Interim coach Matt Sherratt made four changes, with Freddie Thomas starting at lock after Ben Carter was ruled out following a head knock in the opening minute last week.

Aaron Wainwright replaces Taulupe Faletau at No 8, while Archie Griffin comes in at tighthead prop for Keiron Assiratti.

Uncapped trio Christian Coleman, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Keelan Giles have been named on the bench.

ALSO: Razor recalls Tuipolotu, Clarke

JAPAN – 15 Ichigo Nakakusu, 14 Kippei Ishida, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Shogo Nakano, 11 Halatoa Vailea, 10 Seungsin Lee, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Faulua Makisi, 7 Jack Cornelsen, 6 Michael Leitch (c), 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Epineri Uluiviti, 3 Keijiro Tamefusa, 2 Mamoru Harada, 1 Yota Kamimori.
Bench: 16 Hayate Era, 17 Sena Kimura, 18 Shuhei Takeuchi, 19 Waisake Raratubua, 20 Ben Gunter, 21 Shinobu Fujiwara, 22 Sam Greene, 23 Kazuma Ueda.

WALES – 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Josh Macleod, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Freddie Thomas, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Nicky Smith.
Bench: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Christian Coleman, 19 James Ratti, 20 Taine Plumtree, 21 Tommy Reffell, 22 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 23 Keelan Giles.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Masterpress/Getty Images