Rugby Test: United States v Japan

16.11.2008
United States v Japan at Nagoya (1st of 2 tests)

Preview
The USA arrived in Japan last week having just broken a rather embarrasing drought of victories. Not since October 2006 had the Americans won a game when they took the field in Salt lake City against the Uruguyans last Saturday. The 43-9 win, against a team missing all of their European-based players, and a welcomed relief for coach Scott Johnson and the USA rugby administration, may not have been the test they really needed. Johnson has been able to call upon most of his regulars for this months tests against Japan. The outcomes may not be much of a guide either.

Japanese coach, former All Black great John Kirwan, was unable to call upon seventeen of his Asia 5 Nations and Pacific Nations squads when he named a squad of thirty to do battle with the Americans. The Japanese starting line up includes four new test players with another three on the bench. This will leave the Japanese seriously under done to have call upon so many new caps or players with limited international experience.

You can be sure that the USA will concentrate their efforts in the scrum and use muscle to wear the Japanese down whilst Japan will try to outrun their heavier opponents. I can't see the Americans losing this first test.

Last Five Encounters
27.10.2003 USA 39-26 in Gosford (World Cup, Pool B)
17.05.2003 USA 69-27 in San Francisco (Superpowers Cup)
27.05.2000 USA 36-21 in Osaka (Pacific Rim)
12.06.1999 Japan 47-31 in Honolulu (Pacific Rim)
13.06.1998 Japan 25-21 in San Francisco (Pacific Rim)

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Japan 14th, United States 18th

Prediction: USA by 22 points

The Teams

Japan
15. Kaoru Matsushita (Yamaha) 24, New Cap
14. Kosuke Endo (Toyota) 27, 21
13. Koji Taira (Suntory) 25, 10
12. Ryan Nicholas (Suntory) 29, 7
11. Koji Tomioka (Yamaha) 28, New Cap
10. Shaun Webb (World) 26, 7
9. Fumiaki Tanaka (Sanyo) 23, 6
8. Ryu Holani (Sanyo) 27, 6
7. Takashi Kikutani, Capt. (Toyota) 28, 16
6. Hajime Kiso (Yamaha) 30, 31
5. Toshizumi Kitagawa (Toyota) 27, 15
4. Luke Thompson (Kintetsu) 27, 11
3. Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory) 23, New Cap
2. Yusuke Aoki (Suntory) 25, 10
1. Hisateru Hirashima (Kobe Steel) 25, New Cap
Replacements
16. Naonori Mizuyama (NEC) 26, 2
17. Naoki Kawamata (Sanyo) 23, New Cap
18. Tomoaki Taniguchi (Toyota) 26, 11
19. Michael Leitch (Tokai University) 20, New cap
20. Tomoki Yoshida (Toshiba) 26, 14
21. Masakazu Irie (Sanyo) 27, New Cap
22. Bryce Robins (NEC) 28, 19
Head Coach: John Kirwan

USA
15.Christopher Wyles (Saracens, England) Age 25, 11 tests
14. Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz, France) 23, 7
13. Paul Emerick (Overmach Parma, Italy) 28, 30
12. Junior Sifa (Middleton) 25, 1
11. Gavin DeBartolo (Eastern Suburbs) 26, 3
10. Michael Hercus (IBM, Japan) 29, 40
9. Michael Petri (NYAC) 23, 5
8. Patrick Quinn (Denver Barbarians) 26, 2
7. Todd Clever, Capt. (Xerox Lions) 25, 25
6. Inaki Basauri (Agen, France) 24, 4
5. John Van der Giessen (Denver Barbarians) 26, 3
4. Hayden Smith (Saracens, England) 23, 1
3. Matekitonga Moeakiola (Unattached) 30, 8
2. Mark Crick (Potomac Athletic Club) 33, 7
1. Michael MacDonald (Leeds Carnegie, England) 27, 51
Reserves
16. Joseph Welch (Cal) 24, New Cap
17. Shawn Pittman (Chuckanut Bay) 20, 1
18. Alexander Parker (Gentlemen of Aspen) 34, 51
19. J.J. Gagiano (Univ. of Capetown, Sth Africa) 23, 1
20. Chad Erskine (Rotherham, England) 27, 8
21. Valenese Malifa (Belmont Shore) 22, 5
22. Thretton Palamo (Biarritz, France) 20, 1
Head Coach: Scott Johnson
Palamo played his only test for the USA as a 19 year old against South Africa during the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

For full lists of all the international rugby tests played by Japan, and by the USA, go to www.rugbyinternational.net