RUGBY TEST MATCH: Japan Plays First Test Match

30.04.2011
Japan v Hong Kong in Hong Kong (Asia5Nations)

Venue: Hong Kong Football Club

Referee:

Hong Kong’s 2011 team photo. Image thanks to http://www.hkrugby.com

Preview
This game has already been reviewed in earlier posts. Japan has never lost a game in the Asi5Nations and looks to continue despite playing away and giving away two rugby matches in game time to Hong Kong.

Last week’s 23-10 win over Kazakhstan will have given the locals much needed confidence going into this match. The thing is they just do not have the professional set up that Japan has. It’s really the pros v amateurs. Japan’s coach has called for the inclusion of Hong Kong and Korean franchise sides to participate in the Japaneses top league as a way of raising these nations to a more professional level.

Japan’s only real weakness is that they will be rusty. They also have an inexperienced middle row but look at the bench if things go wrong!

Japan’s coach is former All Black and coach of Italy John Kirwan. Kirwan has called for Korean and Hong Kong franchise sides to participate in the Japanese top league. Image thanks to http://www.rugby-japan.jp

Last Five Encounters
22.05.2010 Japan 94-5 in Tokyo (WCQ Asia R2; Asia5Nations)
02.05.2009 Japan 59-6 in Hong Kong (Asia5Nations)
18.05.2008 Japan 75-29 in Niigata (Asia5Nations)
29.04.2007 Japan 73-3 in Tokyo (Asia Nations, Div.2)
18.11.2006 Japan 52-3 in Hong Kong

Hong Kong last defeated Japan in 1998, winning 17-16 in Tokyo.

Hong Kong Last Five
23.04.2011 v Kazakhstan W 23-10 in Almaty (Asia5Nations)
16.04.2011 v Philippines W 70-10 in Manilla (Friendly)
15.12.2010 v Norway W 59-17 in Oslo (Europe Tour)
11.12.2010 v Germany L 13-34 in heidelberg (Europe Tour)
22.05.2010 v Japan L 5-94 in Tokyo (Asia5Nations)

Japan Last Five
08.11.2010 v Russia W 75-3 in Tokyo (Friendly)
30.10.2010 v Samoa L 10-13 in Tokyo (Friendly)
26.06.2010 v Tonga W 26-23 in Apia (Pacific Nations)
19.06.2010 v Samoa W 31-23 in Apia (Pacific Nations)
12.06.2010 v Fiji L 8-22 in Lautoka (Pacific Nations)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Japan 13th, Hong Kong 27th
Asia Table-Japan 1st, Hong Kong 2nd

IRB Ranking Points
Japan 71.45, Hong Kong 53.23

Prediction: Japan by 28 points

Teams

Hong Kong

15. Ross Armour (Valley)
14. Yiu, Kam Shing, Salom (Valley)
13. Thomas McColl, Capt.
12. Lee Jones (Valley)
11. Rowan Varty (DeA)
10. Keith Robertson (DeA)
9. Peter McKee (HKFC)
8. Pale Tauti (DeA)
7. Mark Goosen (Kowloon)
6. Nick Hewson (Valley)
5. Michael Waller (DeA)
4. Renaud Chavanis (Valley)
3. Ng, Wai Shing, Alex (Valley)
2. Alex Harris (Kowloon)
1. Andrew Li (Kowloon)
Replacements
16. Chik, Man Hon, Alvin (Valley)
17. Pete Spizziri (HKFC)
18. Matthew Nuttall (DeA)
19. Terence Montgomery (Valley)
20. Timothy Alexander (Valley)
21. James Hood (HKFC)
21. Alex McQueen (HKCC)
Head Coach: Dai Rees

http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3675&start=30

Japan

15. Taihei Ueda (Honda) Age 29, New cap
14. Alisi Tupuailai (Canon) 30, 11
13. Koji Taira (Suntory) 28, 24
12. Ryan Nicholas (Suntory) 31, 24
11. Hirotoki Onozawa (Suntory) 33, 58
10. Shaun Webb (Coca-cola) 29, 22
9. Atsushi Hiwasa (Suntory) 23, New cap
8 Ryukoliniasi Holani (Panasonic) 29, 14
7. Michael Leitch (Toshiba) 22, 13
6. Takashi Kikutani, Capt. (Toyota) 31, 35
5. Toshizumi Kitagawa (Toyota) 30, 33
4. Justin Ives (Panasonic) 26, New cap
3. Nozomu Fujita (Honda) 26, 4
2. Hiroki Yuhara (Toshiba) 27, 5
1. Naoki Kawamata (Panasonic) 25, 11
Replacements
16. Takeshi Kizu (Kobe Steel) 22, 2
17. Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory) 25, 15
18. Luke Thompson (Kintetsu) 30, 27
19. Toetuu Taufa (Kintetsu) 30, 17
20. Fumiaki Tanaka (Panasonic) 26, 22
21. James Arlidge (Nottingham, England) 31, 25
22. Yuta Imamura (Kobe Steel) 26, 28
Head Coach: John Kirwan

http://www.jrfu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=483:three-new-caps-picked-for-a5n-opener&catid=39:mens-15-a-side
http://www.rugby-japan.jp/japan/japan/2011/id10272.html