Siya Kolisi returns to lead the Springbok team for the first time in nine months on Friday with the eyes of not only South Africa but the Japanese nation on him and the Boks.
A media contingent four times the size of one that would attend a captain's press conference in South Africa turned up at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on Thursday to watch the Boks' captain's run and press conference.
Kolisi said it was tough watching from the sidelines while injured but the great thing was that he was involved the whole time - even running the water in one game which was completely amazing and different.
Kolisi was keen to highlight the challenge posed by Japan who famously beat South Africa 34-32 in the 2015 Rugby World Cup in Brighton in the only previous meeting between the two teams.
Japanese journalists made sure of bringing up that piece of rugby history on at least six occasions during Thursday's media briefing.
Friday's World Cup warm up match between the Springboks and Japan kicks off at 12h15 SA time and will be broadcast live on SuperSport 1.
