RiJ reports on the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon where Japan won gold in the Men’s Sevens and silver in the Women’s Sevens. Japan drops from 10 to 11 in the IRB World Rankings this week although their points remain unchanged. Argentina beat Australia (sob) in the Rugby Championship with the South Americans rising to drop forcing Japan down one place.
Enjoy the read.
CONTENTS
- Top League 2014-15:
-bye - 17th Asian Games
Japan Rugby Top League 2014-15
Bye
Rugby Sevens
The 2014 Asian Games or the XVII Asiad was held in Incheon, South Korea from 19 September to 4 October 2014.
Both man and women competed in Sevens at the Games. Twelve countries participated in the men’s competition across three pools and Japan was in Pool A with Malaysia, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Ten countries participated in the women’s competition across two pools and Japan was in Pool A with China, Singapore, South Korea and Uzbekistan.
The Sevens was held at the Namdong Asiad Rugby Field in Incheon from 30 September to 2 October.
The Japan Men’s Sevens Squad for the 2014 Asian Games
Head Coach: Tomohiro Segawa.
Pools
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C |
| Japan | Hong Kong | South Korea |
| Malaysia | China | Sri Lanka |
| Thailand | Philippines | Chinese Taipei |
| Saudi Arabia | Pakistan | Lebanon |
Pool A Games for Japan
Day 1: Tuesday, 30 September 2014
Game 1: (12:28) – Japan 74 d Saudi Arabia 0
Japan: 1- Yusaku Kuwazuru, 4- Lepuha Latuila, 7- Katsuyuki Sakai (c), 9- Rakuhei Yamashita, 10- Kazushi Hano, 11- Lomano Lemeki, 12- Masaki Watanabe.
Reserves: 2- Shota Hagisawa, 3- Michael Leitch, 5- Makoto Kato, 6- Masakatsu Hikosaka, 8- Takashi Suzuki.
Japan Scorers: Tries: Masaki Watanabe 3, Lomano Lemeki 2, Lepuha Latuila, Rakuhei Yamashita, Katsuyuki Sakai 2, Masakatsu Hikosaka, Shota Hagisawa and Makoto Kato; Conversions: Katsuyuki Sakai 7.
In their opening match, Japan had a convincing 74-0 win over Saudi Arabia. Japan scored twelve unanswered tries with Masaki Watanabe scoring a hat trick while Lomano Lemeki and Captain Katsuyuki Sakai picked up double. Sakai completed the scoresheet with seven conversions. Most of the damage was done in the opening period with Japan getting out to a 36-0 by the break. However, the Japan side carried on in similar fashion in the second period with 38 more points.
Game 2: (16:08) – Japan 61 d Thailand 0
Japan: 1- Yusaku Kuwazuru, 4- Lepuha Latuila, 7- Katsuyuki Sakai (c), 9- Rakuhei Yamashita, 10- Kazushi Hano, 11- Lomano Lemeki, 12- Masaki Watanabe.
Reserves: 2- Shota Hagisawa, 3- Michael Leitch, 5- Makoto Kato, 6- Masakatsu Hikosaka, 8- Takashi Suzuki.
Japan Scorers: Tries: Lomano Lemeki 2, Rakuhei Yamashita, Yusaku Kuwazuru, Kazushi Hano, Takashi Suzuki, Masakatsu Hikosaka, Shota Hagisawa and Masaki Watanabe; Conversions: Katsuyuki Sakai 7 and Michael Leitch.
In their second match, Japan had a convincing 61-0 win over Thailand. Japan scored nine unanswered tries with Lomano Lemeki picking up another double. Sakai completed the scoresheet with seven conversions while Michael Leitch potted the final conversion of the match.
Day 2: Wednesday, 01 October 2014
Game 3: (12:28) – Japan 57 d Malaysia 0
Japan: 1- Yusaku Kuwazuru, 4- Lepuha Latuila, 6- Masakatsu Hikosaka, 7- Katsuyuki Sakai (c), 9- Rakuhei Yamashita, 11- Lomano Lemeki, 12- Masaki Watanabe.
Reserves: 2- Shota Hagisawa, 3- Michael Leitch, 5- Makoto Kato, 8- Takashi Suzuki, 10- Kazushi Hano.
Japan Scorers: Tries: Lepuha Latuila, Lomano Lemeki 2, Rakuhei Yamashita, Kazushi Hano 2, Masakatsu Hikosaka, Takashi Suzuki, Makoto Kato; Conversions: Katsuyuki Sakai 6.
In their third and final match, Japan made a clean sweep of their pool with a 57-0 win over Malaysia. Japan scored nine unanswered tries with Lomano Lemeki and Kazushi Hano picking up doubles. Sakai completed the scoresheet with six conversions. Japan cruised through the pool stages to head Pool A putting them up against Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals later in the day.
Japan’s Knockout Matches
Day 2: Wednesday, 01 October 2014
Quarterfinal: (18:24) – Japan 57 d Chinese Taipei 0
Japan: 1- Yusaku Kuwazuru, 3- Michael Leitch, 6- Masakatsu Hikosaka, 7- Katsuyuki Sakai (c), 9- Rakuhei Yamashita, 10- Kazushi Hano, 11- Lomano Lemeki.
Reserves: 2- Shota Hagisawa, 4- Lepuha Latuila, 5- Makoto Kato, 8- Takashi Suzuki, 12- Masaki Watanabe.
Japan Scorers: Tries: Yusaku Kuwazuru, Katsuyuki Sakai, Kazushi Hano 2, Masakatsu Hikosaka, Makoto Kato, Lomano Lemeki, Shota Hagisawa, Lepuha Latuila; Conversions: Katsuyuki Sakai 4, Makoto Kato and Michael Leitch.
In their quarterfinal match, Japan beat Chinese Taipei 57-0. Japan scored nine unanswered tries with Kazushi Hano picking up a double while the rest of the tries were shared around. Sakai, Kato and Leitch converted six tries between them. The win put Japan up against Sri Lanka in the semi-finals on the third and final day. Japan are on track to meet Hong Kong in the final, a side they have not beaten this year. However, Japan defeated Hong Kong 28-21 four years ago to win gold at the previous Games. At the end of day two, Sakai was the leading point scorer in the men’s division with 63 points from 3 tries and 24 conversions.
Comments by Head Coach Tomohiro Segawa
At the completion of day two, Japan Head Coach Tomohiro Segawa said, “In the four games so far we have not been pushed at all and so we really have not been tested yet. In fourteen minutes of play you really only get two or three solid chances to score and the likes of Sakai, Kuwazuru and Leitch have been doing great in attack, but we have to step up in defence in the upcoming games.”
Comments by Captain Katsuyuki Sakai
At the completion of day two, Japan captain Katsuyuki Sakai said, “So far, things have gone to plan. We face Sri Lanka in the semis and they are a fast side so it is important for us to maintain possession. In the semi and the final, we have to take the opportunities that come our way and front up in defence.”
Day 3: Thursday, 02 October 2014
Semi-final: (16:40) – Japan 40 d Sri Lanka 0
Japan: 1- Yusaku Kuwazuru, 4- Lepuha Latuila, 6- Masakatsu Hikosaka, 7- Katsuyuki Sakai (c), 9- Rakuhei Yamashita, 10- Kazushi Hano, 11- Lomano Lemeki.
Reserves: 2- Shota Hagisawa, 3- Michael Leitch, 5- Makoto Kato, 8- Takashi Suzuki, 12- Masaki Watanabe.
Japan Scorers: Tries: Kazushi Hano 2, Lomano Lemeki 3, Lepuha Latuila,
In their semi-final match, Japan beat Sri Lanka 40-0. Japan scored six unanswered tries with Kazushi Hano picking up a double while Lomano Lemeki crossed the Sri Lankan goal line three times. Sakai converted five tries. The win put Japan up against strong rivals Hong Kong in the final. Japan defeated Hong Kong 28-21 four years ago to win gold at the previous Games.
Final: (19:44) – Japan 24 d Hong Kong 12
Japan: 1- Yusaku Kuwazuru, 3- Michael Leitch, 6- Masakatsu Hikosaka, 7- Katsuyuki Sakai (c), 9- Rakuhei Yamashita, 10- Kazushi Hano, 11- Lomano Lemeki.
Reserves: 2- Shota Hagisawa, 4- Lepuha Latuila, 5- Makoto Kato, 8- Takashi Suzuki, 12- Masaki Watanabe.
Japan Scorers: Tries: Michael Leitch, penalty try, Lomano Lemeki, Kazushi Hano.
In the final, Japan held on to beat Hong Kong 24-12. Japan scored four tries, including a penalty try in the first half, while Hong Kong cored two tries. Rowan Varty scored the first try of the final to put Hong Kong in front early but Japan responded with a try to Michael Leitch to even the scores. Leitch was sinbinned soon after, but late in the half Japan were awarded a penalty try for obstruction giving the Japanese a 12-5 lead at the break. A converted try to Salom Yiu Kam-shing once again tied the scores but further tries to Kazushi Hano and Lomano Lemeki sealed the gold medal for Japan.
Comments by Head Coach Tomohiro Segawa
After winning the gold medal, Japan Head Coach Tomohiro Segawa said, “We were put under a lot of pressure and although we were carrying injuries, the guys did a great job. Everyone played with pride and it is s good sign looking ahead to the Olympics in Rio.”
Comments by Captain Katsuyuki Sakai
After winning the gold medal, Japan captain Katsuyuki Sakai said, “It’s a great feeling winning gold and being number one in Asia. The whole squad contributed to this success. We achieved our aim of winning gold for the third Asian Games in a row.”
Also on the opening day, the Japan Women beat Uzbekistan 46-0, South Korea 50-0 and Singapore 60-0.
On the second day of competition, the Japan Women lost to China 28-7 and thus finished second in Pool A to China. Consequently, on the third and final day of action, in the semi-final match-ups, the Japanese women’s side will play Hong Kong who topped Pool B.
On the third and final day of competition, the Japan Women beat Hong Kong 17-10 in the semi-finals to progress to the final. In the final, Japan faced tournament favourites China. In a close first half, China led 14-7 at the break but Japan closed the gap in the second period to 14-12. Japan nearly stole the result late in proceedings when Yoko Suzuki touched down, but the try was disallowed due to forward pass handing China the gold medal and Japan the silver medal.
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