CONGRATULATIONS RIJ newsletter celebrates it’s 10th anniversary
RiJ profiles Canon this week and with Top League having the bye over the weekend between Christmas and New Year the attention turns to the university semi-finals.
Enjoy the read.
Ian McDonnell lives and works in Japan. He can be contacted at ianmcdo@apost.plala.or.jp
CONTENTS
- Japan Rugby Top League bye no games.
- Top League Promotion and Relegation: Top Challenge Series 2012-13
- Top League Profiles: (13) – Canon Eagles
- 49th University Championship 2012-2013 Finals Stage
- Wales tour to Japan 2013
Top League Promotion and Relegation: Top Challenge Series 2012-13
The Top Challenge Series determines which two sides from the regional leagues will be promoted for the 2013-14 Japan Rugby Top League season.
At the completion of the thirteen rounds of the 2012-13 Japan Rugby Top League competition the two teams that finish in fourteenth and thirteenth places, that is, last and second last play through the promotion and relegation play-offs to retain their places in Top League for the 2013-14 season.
In Top Challenge Two, the three sides that finished in second position in the three regional leagues, that is, Mitsubishi Dynaboars (Top East), Honda Heat (Top West) and Mazda Zoomers (Top Kyushu) played off with Mitsubishi as the winner progressing to Top Challenge One.
In Top Challenge One, the three sides that finished in first position in the three regional leagues, that is, Kubota Spears (Top East), Toyota Industries Shuttles (Top West), Coca-Cola West Red Sparks (Top Kyushu) together with Mitsubishi as the winner of Top Challenge Two play each other once with the top two teams gaining automatic promotion to Top League for the 2013-14 season.
Furthermore, the team that finishes third in Top Challenge One has a second bite of the cherry in a one-off promotion and relegation play-off with the team that finishes fourteenth in Top League while the team that finishes fourth in Top Challenge One plays the team that finishes thirteenth in Top League.
Top Challenge Two 2012-13
The three sides that contested Top Challenge Two 2012-13 were: Mitsubishi Dynaboars (Top East), Honda Heat (Top West) and Mazda Blue Zoomers (Top Kyushu). Mitsubishi won both their games to qualify for Top Challenge One.
Mitsubishi Dynaboars (Top East 2) 18 d Honda Heat (Top West 2) 9
Date: Sunday, 09 December 2012
Venue: Universiade Stadium, Kobe
Kick-off: 13:00
At the Universiade Stadium in Kobe, Mitsubishi as the runner-up in Top East beat Honda, the runner-up in Top West 18-9 in a tight tryless game. Five-eighth and former England international Dave Warner scored all the points for Mitsubishi with six penalties to chalk up the first win in the Top Challenge Two 2012-13 series.
Honda Heat (Top West 2) 33 d Mazda Blue Zoomers (Top Kyushu 2) 7
Date: Sunday, 16 December 2012
Venue: Coca-Cola West Ground, Hiroshima
Kick-off: 13:00
After being relegated from Top League at the end of the 2011-12 season, Honda played out of the Top West competition this season where they finished first. Honda helped their cause of achieving promotion when they beat Mazda 33-7, scoring 5 tries to one in the process. With the likes of former Japan utility back Bryce Robins in their ranks Honda were far superior to the second best team in Kyushu.
Mitsubishi Dynaboars (Top East 2) 81 Mazda Blue Zoomers (Top Kyushu 2) 7
Date: Monday, 24 December 2012
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo
Kick-off: 13:00
Mitsubishi overwhelmed Mazda scoring 13 tries to one in their runaway 81-7 victory that guaranteed the Dynaboars a place in Top Challenge One. Former Welsh international wing Shane Williams scored 3 tries and kicked 5 conversions during his 65 minutes on the paddock.
Top League Profiles 2012-13
(13) – Canon Eagles
2012-13 Introduction: Last season (2011-12) Canon topped the Top Challenge Series to win promotion to Top League for the very first time in the 2012-13 season. With Top League now in its tenth year, it is going to be a quantum leap for Canon both on and off the field but the team has been slowly but surely building over the past few years and a place in Top League is just rewards for these efforts. The Canon coaching staff includes former Suntory halfback Yoji Nagatomo as manager who earned eight caps for Japan and coached Suntory in the early years of Top League along with former Brumbies coach Andy Friend as head coach. This very experienced coaching combination will have to rely on the experienced players in the squad who have previously played in Top League with other teams including a number of former Sanyo players such as hooker Mitsugu Yamamoto and fullback Hiroaki Tainaka as well as journeyman in centre Atsushi Moriya who has seven caps for Japan. Furthermore, backrower Aston Crawford and centre Rocky Havili also have Top League experience. It also goes without saying that the foreign players in the squad are going to have an important role to play as the season rolls on including centre Callum Bruce, locks Albert van den Berg and Kane Thompson and new signing in former All Black centre Isaia Toeava.
Established: Canon Eagles were established in 1980 and has its training ground in Machida city in Tokyo.
The team slogan for 2012-13 is “Level Up”.
The Company: Canon Inc., as the mother company of Canon Eagles is a multinational Japanese corporation that specialises in imaging and optical products such as cameras and printers. Canon has its headquarters in Ota ward, Tokyo.
Titles:
Top League – none.
From the 2003-4 season to the 2005-6 season, Top League consisted of 12 teams and the team that finished on top of the table claimed the title. In the 2006-7 season, Top League was increased to 14 teams with the top four finishers on the ladder progressing to the Microsoft Cup, the play-off series to determine the overall Top League champion. From the 2009-10 season, the Microsoft company did not renew their naming rights sponsorship and so the finals series became known as the Top League Play-off Tournament.
In the 2012-13 season, Canon Eagles topped the Top East regional league and thereby qualified directly for the four-team Top Challenge One series. The Eagles beat Toyota Industries Shuttles 46-24 in their first round game, then beat Kubota 37-24 on their next game before losing 68-17 to Kyuden in their final game. However, Canon topped the Top Challenge table to qualify for the 2012 National Championship as the Top Challenger and also won promotion to Top League for the 2012-13 season.
2011-12 (14 teams): DNP.
2010-11 (14 teams): DNP.
2009-10 (14 teams): DNP.
2008-9 (14 teams): DNP.
2007-8 (14 teams): DNP.
2006-7 (14 teams): DNP.
2005-6 (12 teams): DNP.
2004-5 (12 teams): DNP.
2003-4 (12 teams): DNP.
Microsoft Cup – (as a standalone Cup 2004-2006) none.
From 2004 to 2006 the Microsoft Cup was a separate knock-out tournament for the top 8 finishers in Top League. From 2007 the Microsoft Cup acted as the play-off finals series to determine the overall Top League champion with the top four finishers on the Top League ladder progressing to the Microsoft Cup. The Microsoft company did not renew their naming rights sponsorship for the 2009-10 Top League season and so the 2010 finals series became known as the Top League Play-off Tournament.
2009: DNP.
2008: DNP.
2007: DNP.
2006: DNP.
2005: DNP.
2004: DNP.
National Championship – none.
After 22 teams participated in the 2004 National Championship it was reduced to 8 teams for 2005 consisting of the top four Top League sides, the top two universities, the top challenger from lower divisions and the top club side. In 2009 the number of teams was increased to ten with two additional Top League sides.
For 2010 the Wildcard Tournament was introduced to the National Championship for the Top League sides that finished fifth to tenth on the final table. In 2011 these six sides were: Kobe (fifth on 36 points), NEC (sixth on 34 points), Ricoh (seventh on 32 points), Sanix (eighth on 32 points), Kintetsu (ninth on 31 points) and Coca-Cola (tenth on 28 points). The teams played off over two weekends with Kobe and Ricoh winning the right to participate in the NC as the final two Top League participants. In 2012 the Wildcard Tournament was abbreviated to the four teams that finished fifth to eighth with fifth placed Kintetsu Liners playing eighth placed Yamaha Jubilo and sixth placed Kobe Steelers playing seventh placed Ricoh Black Rams. Kobe beat Ricoh 32-19 and Yamaha beat Kintetsu 17-15 with the winners thus qualifying for the up-coming 49th National Championship.
2012 (49th NC - 10 teams): Qualified as Top Challenger. Beat Tenri Uni 37-13 in first round then lost to NEC 62-19 in second round.
2011 (48th NC - 10 teams): DNP.
2010 (47th NC - 10 teams): DNP.
2009 (46th NC - 10 teams): DNP.
2008 (45th NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2007 (44th NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2006 (43rd NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2005 (42nd NC - 8 teams): DNP.
2004 (41st NC - 22 teams): DNP.
Corporate Championship – None. The Corporate Championship started in 1949 and ended with the 55th Corporate Championship in 2003 as a consequence of the introduction of Top League as the national corporate league in the 2003-4 season.
Colours: Red jersey with black and flanks, black shorts and red socks. The second jersey is reverse.
Style of Play: Tokyo based Canon topped the ten-team Top East League Division One in the 2011 season undefeated on 41 points from seven wins, a draw and points earned from a forfeit. This put Canon in the Top Challenge One series where they were again undefeated, beating Kyuden 23-14, Kubota 38-7 and Toyota Industries 50-7 to automatically qualify for Top League for the 2012-13 season. Top League is celebrating ten years this season and with Canon playing in the league for the first time competing against the seasoned sides in the competition, every game is going to have to be played as a final.
Furthermore, although Canon have developed nicely over recent years playing out of the Kanto based Top East League, the Eagles are going to have to continue to improve in leaps and bounds in order to be competitive in Top League. It also goes without saying that the fate of Canon will rest on the experience in the club, both on and off the field. First and foremost, the experienced overseas players such as Korean prop Kim Gwan-Mo, Samoan lock Kane Thompson, former Springboks lock Albert van den Berg, Fijian backrower Tomasi Soqeta, playmaker Callum Bruce and former All Blacks centre Isaia Toeava will play a crucial role. In addition, there are a number of players in the squad that have played in Top League with other clubs including former Japan and Sanyo hooker Mitsugu Yamamoto, backrower Aston Crawford (Toyota, Mitsubishi Dynaboars, NTT Comm.), former Japan centre Atsushi Moriya (Yamaha, Honda, Ricoh) and centre Rocky Havili (Suntory, Ricoh). When the pressure is on, it will be these players that will have to lead from the front. Off the field, Canon have a stable coaching team led by former Japan halfback Yoji Nagatomo who coached Suntory in the early years on Top League and former Brumbies head coach Andy Friend.
As is often the case with sides winning promotion to Top League, there has been a huge turn over in playing personnel with 12 players parting ways with the team and 16 new players coming on board. How Canon can gel as an outfit is also important but high levels of positive enthusiasm and staying power over the longer course of the competiton will define their season. Canon have nothing to lose and everything to gain but retaining their place in Top League for next season still has to be priority number one.
Players to Watch: A lot of the fortune or otherwise of Canon in Top League in 2012-13 will depend on the overseas players and the seasoned local players who have previously played with other clubs in Top League. In the forwards, big Korean prop Kim Gwan-Mo who previously plied his trade with Sanyo, former Japan and Sanyo hooker Mitsugu Yamamoto, 38-year-old former Springboks lock Albert van den Berg now in his third year with the club, Samoan lock Kane Thompson in his first year in Japan and backrowers in Fijian Tomasi Soqeta and Aston Crawford are going to be the main stays in the pack.
In the backs, it is a similar story with former Highlanders and Chiefs playmaker Callum Bruce along with former All Blacks centre Isaia Toeava going to be key players. Centre Atsushi Moriya (Yamaha, Honda, Ricoh) at 184cm and 90kg earned 7 caps for Japan and his midfield combinations with the likes of Toeava, Rocky Havili and Hiroyuki Sakamoto (IBM, Tepco) will be important. Out wide, wing and captain Taku Wada and the imposing former Sanyo fullback Hiroaki Tainaka are also other players to watch.
Cap Holders for Japan in the Current Squad: (2)
In 2012, in the HSBC A5N series, the IRB PNC series and Japan tour to Europe in the autumn, Canon were not represented.
The following players at Canon have represented Japan though they were not playing with the club when they did so.
Mitsugu YAMAMOTO (449), 31 y/o (12/05/1981), 10 caps as hooker.
Atsushi MORIYA (482), 30 y/o (28/12/1981), 7 caps as centre.
The Coach: The manager at Canon for the 2012-13 season is Yoji Nagatomo (41, 14/03/1971). The former Meiji University and Suntory halfback earned 8 caps for Japan (Japan player number 327) between 1993 and 1997 and coached Suntory in the first three years of Top League and linked up with Canon in the 2009-10 season. Further, Andy Friend (43, 24/04/1969) is the head coach. Most recently, Friend was head coach at the Brumbies from 2009 to 2011 and over a long coaching career has also been part of coaching regimes with the Harlequins (England), Australia U21, Australia and the Waratahs.
The Captain: The captain at Canon for 2012-13 is wing Taku Wada. He is new in the role this season while the 24 year old (11/08/1988) is only in his second season with the club. Meanwhile, hooker Daisuke Kaneko (24) is the forwards leader and five-eighth Kosuke Hashino (24) is the backs leader.
Losses: (12)
Yasumasa MIYAMOTO, 33 y/o (09/08/1979), prop, 186/120, into company workforce after 3 years with the club.
Hikaru MATSUDA, 26 y/o (30/08/1986), prop, 177/105, into company workforce after 3 years with the club.
Yohei MIYAMOTO, 26 y/o (01/05/1986), hooker, 175/100, into company workforce after 3 years with the club.
Junya YOSHIDA, 33 y/o (02/12/1986), hooker, 183/102, into company workforce after 3 years with the club.
Toriki (Feletiliki) MAU (447) (Tonga/Japan), 35 y/o (21/08/1977), lock/flanker, 190/115, 6 caps for Japan, Ricoh (2001-2 to 2003-4), World (2004-5 to 2009-10), to Sanix after 2 years with the club.
Motoki KOMATSU, 31 y/o (22/06/1981), lock, 188/100, into company workforce after 3 years with the club.
Sitaleki TAMANI (Australia), 26 y/o (19/09/1986), lock, 202/123, to Waratahs after one year with the club.
Hiroto MUKOYAMA, 28 y/o (28/04/1984), halfback, 167/71, into company workforce after 5 years with the club.
Yuki IMAMURA, 33 y/o (08/07/1979), five-eighth, 168/78, onto coaching staff as backs coach after 3 years with the club.
Yasuharu URYU, 32 y/o (07/01/1980), centre, 176/82, 2 caps for Japan, team scout after 3 years with the club.
Alisi TUPUAILEI (532) (Samoa), 32 y/o (28/09/1980), centre, 187/116, 20 caps for Japan, Honda (2004-5 to 2009-10), after 2 years with the club.
Kenji TOKAIRIN, 28 y/o (11/07/1984), wing, 182/80, into company workforce after 5 years with the club.
Gains: (16)
Takatoshi SUGAWARA 25 y/o (13/03/1987), prop, 175/105, from Doshisha University.
Satoshi UEDA, 23 y/o (08/04/1989), prop, 181/105, from Tenri University.
HE Zhong-Liang (China), 31 y/o (24/05/1981), lock, 193/100, 2 caps for China, from Mitsubishi Dynaboars (2008-9 to 2011-12).
Kane THOMPSON (Samoa), 30 y/o (01/09/1982), lock, 198/113, 24 caps for Samoa, SR Highlanders and Chiefs.
Shohei YUZAWA, 24 y/o (22/08/1988), lock, 187/105, from Seiji University.
Suguru HIDAKA, 22 y/o (15/02/1990), lock, 190/100, from Meiji University.
Muneyuki UEMATSU, 22 y/o (09/03/1990), flanker, 183/90, from Ritsumeikan University.
Murphy LEILUA (NZL), 24 y/o (02/12/1988), flanker, 184/105, from Yamanashi Gakuin University.
Taka Aston CRAWFORD (NZL/Japan), 32 y/o (22/09/1980), No8, 185/105, Toyota (2004-5 to 2007-8, Mitsubishi Dynaboars (2008-9 to 2009-10), NTT Comm. (2010-11 to 2011-12).
Joshua MAU (NZL), 25 y/o (27/01/1987), No8, 180/107, Tokai University, from Yokogawa (2010-11 to 2011-12).
Ryota TAKAGI, 23 y/o (08/11/1989), halfback, 170/73, from Hosei University.
Takeru FUKUI, 22 y/o (29/03/1990), halfback, 177/78, from Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences and Doshisha, he has represented Japan at U20 level.
Rocky HAVILI (Tonga), 32 y/o (08/03/1980), backrow, 180/101, Suntory (2007-8 and 2008-9), from Canon (2009-10 to 2011-12).
Tim BENNETT (The Philippines), 22 y/o (01/08/1990), centre, 185/90, from SR Waratahs Academy, he has represented Australia at U20 level.
Isaia TOEAVA (NZL), 26 y/o (15/01/1986), centre, 186/102, 36 caps for New Zealand, SR Chiefs.
Shinji NAKATA, 26 y/o (08/09/1986), wing, 177/85, Chuo University, from Hino (2009-10 to 2011-12).
Overseas Players and Staff: (12 + 2)
KIM Gwan-Mo (Korea), 33 y/o (19/09/1979), prop, 188/117, 3rd year, 30 caps for Korea, Sanyo (2005-6 to 2009-10).
Albert van den BERG (RSA), 38 y/o (26/01/1974), lock, 201/110, 3rd year, 51 caps for Springboks, SR Sharks.
Tomasi SOQETA (Fiji), 29 y/o (16/08/1983), No8, 191/120, 3rd year, 4 caps for Fiji, Suntory (2007-8 to 2008-9).
Callum BRUCE (NZL), 29 y/o (09/06/1983), five-eighth, 180/92, 3rd year, NZ Maori, JAB, SR Highlanders and Chiefs.
HE Zhong-Liang (China), 31 y/o (24/05/1981), lock, 193/100, 2 caps for China, from Mitsubishi Dynaboars (2008-9 to 2011-12).
Kane THOMPSON (Samoa), 30 y/o (01/09/1982), lock, 198/113, 24 caps for Samoa, SR Highlanders and Chiefs.
Murphy LEILUA (NZL), 24 y/o (02/12/1988), flanker, 184/105, from Yamanashi Gakuin University.
Taka Aston CRAWFORD (NZL/Japan), 32 y/o (22/09/1980), No8, 185/105, Toyota (2004-5 to 2007-8, Mitsubishi Dynaboars (2008-9 to 2009-10), NTT Comm. (2010-11 to 2011-12).
Joshua MAU (NZL), 25 y/o (27/01/1987), No8, 180/107, Tokai University, from Yokogawa (2010-11 to 2011-12).
Rocky HAVILI (Tonga), 32 y/o (08/03/1980), backrow, 180/101, Suntory (2007-8 and 2008-9), from Canon (2009-10 to 2011-12).
Tim BENNETT (The Philippines), 22 y/o (01/08/1990), centre, 185/90, from SR Waratahs Academy, he has represented Australia at U20 level.
Isaia TOEAVA (NZL), 26 y/o (15/01/1986), centre, 186/102, 36 caps for New Zealand, SR Chiefs.
Andy FRIEND (43, 24/04/1969), head coach.
Marcus KANE, strength and conditioning coach.
The 2012-13 Squad: (50) The list starts with captain and vice-captains and continues through forwards and backs in order from props to fullbacks. All family names come last.
Taku Wada (c), Aston Crawford (forwards leader), Hiroaki Tainaka (backs leader). Forwards: Kim Gwan-Mo, Daisuke Tachikawa, Yasuo Yamaji, Yosuke Shishido, Takatoshi Sugawara, Akira Jo, Satoshi Ueda, Mitsugu Yamamoto, Takuya Sakashita, Daisuke Kaneko, Albert van den Berg, He Zhong-Liang, Kane Thompson, Hiromitsu Kai, Daiki Ogasawara, Shohei Yuzawa, Suguru Hidaka, Muneyuki Uematsu, Taku Kajiro, Shuhei Takane, Hiroshi Takeyama, Naoshi Shimizu, Ko Yoshioka, Murphy Leilua, Tomasi Soqeta and Joshua Mau. Backs: Keisuke Tahara, Ken Yoshida, Ryota Takagi, Takeru Fukui, Callum Bruce, Shinnosuke Tase, Kosuke Hashino, Rocky Havili, Atsushi Moriya, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Isaia Toeava, Shogo Tokunaga, Ryohei Mitomo, Tim Bennett, Hikaru Arai, Shinji Nakata, Kazuyuki Takahashi, Jumpei Tanizaki, Michio Iwai, Hiroki Oi and Daiki Tanaka.
49th National University Championship 2012-13
Final Stage
At the completion of the Second Stage, the four teams that topped the four pools qualify for the semi-finals.
Final
Sunday 13 January 2013
National Stadium, Tokyo
Teikyo University (1st in Pool D) v Tsukuba University (1st in Pool A)
Semi-finals
Wednesday 02 January 2013
National Stadium, Tokyo
Teikyo University (1st in Pool D) 38 d Waseda University (1st in Pool B) 10, at the National Stadium, Tokyo, 12:15.
Under blue skies but windy conditions at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Waseda took an early 10-0 lead over Teikyo though a penalty to five-eighth Jumpei Ogura and a converted try to hooker Takuru Sudo. However, the defending university champions settled and played their way back into the game with sustained pressure leading to lock Naohiro Kotaki scoring near the posts on the half hour for five-eighth Ryoto Nakamura to make it 10-7, the eventual halftime score.
Flanker Malgene Ilalua put Teikyo in front for the first time early in the latter half with the Nakamura conversion extending the lead to 14-10 and then 17-10 with a penalty in the 9th minute. Teikyo stamped their authority on the game with No8 Lee Son-Chan mauling over a try in the 16th minute with Nakamura converting from wide out in difficult conditions to stretch the lead to 24-10. Wing Hirotomo Ono made the Waseda task all that much more difficult scoring from an intercept with Nakamura adding the extras to make it 31-10. Ilalua then sealed the deal with his second try in the 26th minute with Teikyo going on to win 38-10. The win put Teikyo into the National University Championship final for the fifth year in a row. Teikyo lost their first ever appearance in the final in 2009 when they went down to Waseda had since then beat Tokai in 2010, Waseda in 2011 and Tenri in 2012 to be the first school to win three titles in a row since Doshisha in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Consequently, Teikyo will now be aiming to become the first university to win the title four years in a row.
Tsukuba University (1st in Pool A) 28 d Tokai University (1st in Pool C) 26, at the National Stadium, Tokyo, 14:10.
Tsukuba lock Masataka Tsuruya opened the scoring in the second semi-final with a try in the 6th minute, but Tokai responded with a five-pointer to wing Hideto Kondo in the 12th minute with fullback Takuya Takahira adding the extras to give Tokai the lead at 7-5. Tokai moved further ahead late in the half with centre Takeshi Yunosate crossing for the second team try with Takahira slotting the conversion to make it 14-5. With the halftime hooter sounding in the background Tokai broadened the gap with a converted try taking the teams to the break with Tokai in front 21-5.
Tsukuba were playing with the advantage of the breeze in the second half and with their fair share of possession kept up the pressure on their opponents producing three points from the boot of five-eighth Yasunori Katagiri from a penalty in the 10th minute. Tsuruya then crossed the Tokai whitewash for a second time in the 17th minute and the successful conversion from Katagiri narrowed the scoreline to 21-15. The momentum continued to shift with fullback and captain Keita Uchida making it a one point game with a try in the 25th minute and with plenty of time left on the clock the game remained in the balance. The revival was completed a few minutes later when a penalty from Katagiri put Tsukuba back in front 23-21. Tokai scored their first points in the half in the 35th minute from turnover ball on their own line to give them back the lead 26-23 but it was short lived with Tsukuba flanker Shunsuke Kasuya scoring almost immediately from a charge down for Tsukuba to grab back the lead 28-26 with the clock ticking down. From there Tsukuba held on for the win and advanced to a university final for the first time.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment