Nanterre -Japan coach Jamie Joseph has made just one change to his team for Saturday's Test match against France following last week's win over Tonga.

The former All Black has brought in Yutaka Nagare at scrumhalf in place of Fumiaki Tanaka, who drops to the bench where flanker Yoshitaka Tokunaga replaces the injured Shunsuke Nunomaki.

Japan, who will host the 2019 Rugby World Cup, are hoping to spring a surprise on Guy Noves' French team who are struggling after defeats to South Africa and New Zealand.

"We understand the French team is also under a lot of pressure from the public so maybe we can use that to our advantage," said captain Michael Leitch.

"But I am sure France will come out and hope to put in a good performance for their fans."

The "Brave Blossoms" are fresh from beating Tonga 39-6 in Toulouse last weekend.

Saturday's match will be played at the recently-opened U Arena, a 30 000-capacity venue in Nanterre, just outside Paris.

Kick-off is at 22:00 SA time.

Teams: 

France

15 Scott Spedding, 14 Gabriel Lacroix, 13 Damian Penaud, 12 Henry Chavancy, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Baptiste Serin, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Sekou Macalou, 6 Judicaël Cancoriet, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Romain Taofifenua, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado (captain), 1 Jefferson Poirot

Substitutes: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Daniel Kotze, 18 Sebastien Taofifenua, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Fabien Sanconnie, 21 Antoine Dupont, 22 Mathieu Bastareaud, 23 Hugo Bonneval

Japan

15 Kotaro Matsushima, 14 Lomano Lemeki, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Michael Leitch (captain), 6 Kazuki Himeno, 5 Shinya Makabe, 4 Wimpie van der Walt, 3 Jiwon Koo, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki

Substitutes: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Shintaro Ishihara, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Yoshitaka Tokunaga, 20 Fetuani Lautami, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Sione Teaupa, 23 Yoshikazu Fujita