bbc sportnationalities of the japanese rugby team

We’ve got to accept that pressure’s coming and deal with it as best we can.” I think we can expect a lot of high balls. They control the game through their kicking game and their set piece, and for all tier-two teams that’s a real challenge. “They play differently to everyone else at the World Cup. The former All Black back-rower also relished the Uruguay game – “their performance is inspiring for tier-two teams, I really enjoyed that match” – but believes England are generally harder to knock over than certain other nations because of their tactical approach. If we can find them and are able to play our game that can create opportunities for us.” That was England at their best but prior to that we’ve also seen they’ve got a few weaknesses. “It’s where they come against every team and it’s going to be a big challenge for us. Michael Leitch takes inspiration from Uruguay’s effort against France with Japan eyeing another major upset. I think it’s the best forward pack we can name but we also understand that’s where England will come. Japan are expecting a full frontal assault – “England have been playing the same way for the past 100 years,” suggested Japan’s scrum coach Shin Hasegawa in midweek – but have duly bolstered their own pack with some experienced muscle in the form of Shota Horie, Pieter Labuschagne and the captain, Kazuki Himeno.Īmato Fakatava, scorer of two tries against Chile, is a handful in the second row and so is Warner Dearns on the bench, prompting their head coach, Jamie Joseph, to suggest England might not have things all their own way.

Where there is sufficient determination and commitment, in other words, there is hope. Your ability to look beyond what everyone thinks you’re capable of doing is always there.” “The thing that still sticks out the most is that you can’t be limited by traditional thoughts. “He created a lineout that could compete at a world level even though the tallest guy we had was 6ft 3in tall.” Something else Jones said at the end of last year also lingers. Leitch did not disagree, revealing the Uruguay game had finally made him appreciate the magnitude of what Japan achieved on that day of days under the tutelage of Eddie Jones and a certain Steve Borthwick.Įven now, incidentally, Jones still hails Borthwick’s role in Japan’s stunning success over the Boks as pivotal.

It was put to the great Michael Leitch that the sunny coastal vibe was not dissimilar to Brighton eight years ago.

It was on the Côte d’Azur that F Scott Fitzgerald finished The Great Gatsby and started Tender Is The Night.

Bbc sportnationalities of the japanese rugby team