RUGBY IN JAPAN NEWSLETTER: Vol.10, No.24

Congratulations RIJ Newsletter 10th Anniversary 2003-2013

RiJ looks at the effort Japan put in against Wales in going down 22-18 at Hanazono in Osaka on Saturday. Japan came close to creating a bit of history but in the end Wales did enough to secure the win.

Ian McDonnell lives and works in Japan. He can be contacted at ianmcdo@apost.plala.or.jp

CONTENTS

• Wales Tour to Japan 2013

Wales Tour to Japan 2013

Wales will tour Japan for the third time in June 2013 with tests at the Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground in Osaka on Saturday 8 June and the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday 15 June.

This tour is reminiscent of the 2001 visit when the British and Irish Lions were also touring Australia and Wales enjoyed good wins over Japan at the same venues in Osaka and Tokyo. The first visit to Japan by Wales was back in 1975 with a squad that included the likes of Welsh rugby legends JPR Williams , Phil Bennett and Gerald Davies.

Japan played a Welsh side for the first time on their tour of Europe in 1973 playing a Wales XV side at the Cardiff Arms Park. Japan were coached by Hisashi Yokoi while his younger brother Akira was the captain.

Former Welsh hooker Robyn McBryde will act as interim head coach with regular head coach Warren Gatland and also deputy head coach Rob Howley taking the British and Irish Lions to Australia in 2013. On 21 May 2013 McBryde named a 27-man squad for the tour to be captained by Cardiff Blue’s lock Bradley Davies. With fifteen leading players in Australia with the Lions the emphasis will be on youth and development. Injuries around other front line players such as five-eighth Rhys Priestland and hooker Ken Owens have forced McBryde to look further afield while he has overlooked the likes of James Hook in order to further pursue the youth policy of the tour.

Former Wigan and Great Britain rugby league star Shaun Edwards will be the defensive coach as Wales tour Japan as the reigning 2013 Six Nations champions and he is well aware that the young squad in the heat and humidity of Japan in June will have to work hard for two wins.

27-man Wales Squad for Tour to Japan 2013

Pos.	Name	Club	DOB	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
Prop	Ryan BEVINGTON	Ospreys	09/12/1988	24	182/112	9
Prop	Rhys GILL	Saracens (ENG)	30/10/1986	26	180/113	3
Hooker	Emyr PHILLIPS	Scarlets	22/02/1987	26	183/102	0
Hooker	Scott BALDWIN	Ospreys	12/07/1988	24	190/110	0
Prop	Scott ANDREWS	Cardiff Blues	01/08/1989	23	188/117	6
Prop	Craig MITCHELL	Exeter Chiefs (ENG)	03/05/1986	27	185/119	14
Prop	Rhodri Jones	Scarlets	23/12/1991	21	191/119	1
Lock	Bradley DAVIES (c)	Cardiff Blues	09/01/1987	26	198/122	38
Lock	Lou REED	Cardiff Blues	10/09/1987	25	199/122	3
Lock	Andrew COOMBS	Newport Gwent Dragons	27/10/1984	28	194/109	4
Lock	James KING	Ospreys	24/07/1990	22	193/105	0
Flanker	Josh NAVIDI	Cardiff Blues	30/12/1990	22	185/95	0
Flanker	Dan BAKER	Ospreys	05/07/1992	20	191/112	0
Flanker	Rob McCUSKER	Scarlets	10/12/1985	27	195/100	5
No8	Andries PRETORIUS	Cardiff Blues	26/09/1985	27	194/110	0
Halfback	Lloyd WILLIAMS	Cardiff Blues	30/11/1989	23	183/89	13
Halfback	Tavis KNOYLE	Scarlets	02/06/1990	23	185/91	9
Five-eighth	Dan BIGGAR	Ospreys	16/10/1989	23	188/89	16
Five-eighth	Rhys PATCHELL	Cardiff Blues	17/05/1993	20	188/95	0
Centre	Adam WARREN	Scarlets	07/03/1991	22	183/96	1
Centre	Owen WILLIAMS	Cardiff Blues	02/10/1991	21	190/96	0
Centre	Jonathon SPRATT	Ospreys	28/04/1986	27	188/102	2
Wing	Dafydd HOWELLS	Ospreys	22/03/1995	18	185/96	0
Fullback	Liam WILLIAMS	Scarlets	09/04/1991	22	188/86	3
Wing	Harry ROBINSON	Cardiff Blues	16/04/1993	20	178/82	1
Fullback	Tom PRYDIE	Newport Gwent Dragons	23/02/1992	21	194/86	4
Fullback	Steven SHINGLER	London Irish (ENG)	20/06/1991	21	190/88	0

Team Manager: Alan Phillips.

Head Coach: Robyn McBryde (Interim coach).

Wales 22 d Japan 18

Wales 22 – Try: Harry Robinson; Conversion: Dan Biggar; Penalties: Dan Biggar 4, Rhys Patchell d.

Japan 18 – Tries: Michael Broadhurst and Yoshikazu Fujita; Conversion: Ayumu Goromaru; Penalties: Ayumu Goromaru 2.

Competition: Wales Tour to Japan 2013.
Date: Saturday 08 June 2013.
Venue: Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground, Osaka.
Japan Test Number: 289.
Japan Game Number: TBC.

Kick-off: 14:00 local time (05:00 GMT/UTC).
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa) . Assistant Referees: Greg Garner (England) and Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan).

Conditions: Overcast, maximum forecast for Osaka 30 degrees Celsius, no wind. Surface well grassed, firm and fast.

Attendance: 20,152.

Halftime: Japan 11 – Wales 6.
Yellow Card: Rob McCusker (Wales No.8, 19 min 1H, intentional infringement).

Head-to-head Encounters:

Japan and sides from Wales, including the full national side (eight times), Wales XV (four times) and Combined Clubs of Wales (once) have met thirteen times dating back to 1973 with the Welsh sides victorious on all occasions.

The highest scoring win for Wales was 98-0 in Cardiff in November 2004, while the biggest winning margin was 98 points in the same test. The longest winning sequence for Welsh sides is twelve wins in a row between 1973 and 2007. The closest test was when a Wales XV beat Japan 29-24 in Cardiff in 1983.

Of the thirteen tests played, five have been played in Japan, while seven tests have been played in Wales and one has been played on the neutral territory of Bloemfontein in South Africa during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Japan and Wales have met three times at Rugby World Cups, including 1995, 1999 and 2007.

No.	Date	Result (Home – Away)	Venue	Tournament	Japan Test No.	W/D/L (For Japan)
13	08 Jun 2013	Japan 18 – Wales 22	Hanazono, Osaka		289	Lost
12	20 Sep 2007	Wales 72 – Japan 18	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	6th RWC	229	Lost
11	26 Nov 2004	Wales 98 – Japan 0	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff		199	Lost
10	17 Jun 2001	Japan 30 – Wales 53	Chichibu, Tokyo		172	Lost
9	10 Jun 2001	Japan 10 – Wales 64	Hanazono, Osaka		171	Lost
8	09 Oct 1999	Wales 64 – Japan 15	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	4th RWC	160	Lost
7	27 May 1995	Wales 57 – Japan 10	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein	3rd RWC	126	Lost
6	16 Oct 1993	Wales 55 – Japan 5	Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff		118	Lost
5	22 Oct 1983	Wales XV 29 – Japan 24	Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff		79	Lost
4	09 Oct 1976	Combined Clubs of Wales 63 – Japan 9	St Helen’s, Swansea		53	Lost
3	24 Sep 1975	Japan 6 – Wales XV 82	National Stadium, Tokyo		49	Lost
2	21 Sep 1975	Japan 12 – Wales XV 56	Hanazono, Osaka		48	Lost
1	06 Oct 1973	Wales XV 62 – Japan 14	Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff		38	Lost

Japan (IRB rank 15 (68.91), at 03 June 2013)

Pos.	Name (Test Player Number)	Club	DOB	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
1	Masataka MIKAMI (TBC)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	04/06/1988	24	178/115	6
2	Shota HORIE (530)	Panasonic Wild Knights	21/01/1986	27	180/105	20
3	Hiroshi YAMASHITA (523)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	01/01/1986	27	183/122	22
4	Hitoshi ONO (445)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	06/05/1978	35	192/105	70
5	Shoji ITO (553)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	02/12/1980	32	191/101	14
6	Hendrik TUI (565)	Suntory Sungoliath	13/12/1987	25	189/108	11
7	Michael BROADHURST (566)	Ricoh Black Rams	30/10/1986	26	196/111	9
8	Takashi KIKUTANI (c) (474)	Toyota Verblitz	24/02/1980	33	187/105	60
9	Fumiaki TANAKA (510)	Panasonic Wild Knights	03/01/1985	28	166/71	34
10	Harumichi TATEKAWA (557)	Kubota Spears	02/12/1989	23	181/95	16
11	Kenki FUKUOKA (TBC)	Tsukuba University	07/09/1992	20	175/83	5
12	Craig WING (TBC)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	26/12/1979	33	180/90	3
13	Male SAU (TBC)	Yamaha Jubilo	13/10/1987	25	183/97	6
14	Yoshikazu FUJITA (562)	Waseda University	08/09/1993	19	184/86	6
15	Ayumu GOROMARU (467)	Yamaha Jubilo	01/03/1986	27	185/99	26
16	Takeshi KIZU (534)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	15/07/1988	24	183/114	19
17	Yusuke NAGAE (551)	Ricoh Black Rams	19/07/1985	27	171/108	10
18	Kensuke HATAKEYAMA (515)	Suntory Sungoliath	02/08/1985	27	178/115	43
19	Toshizumi KITAGAWA (473)	Toyota Verblitz	07/02/1981	32	195/112	43
20	Ryuta YASUI (TBC)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	06/12/1989	23	187/105	2
21	Atsushi HIWASA (545)	Suntory Sungoliath	22/05/1987	26	166/72	24
22	Yu TAMURA (555)	NEC Green Rockets	09/01/1989	24	181/92	10
23	Hirotoki ONOZAWA (416)	Suntory Sungoliath	29/03/1978	35	180/87	81

Head Coach: Eddie Jones (AUS). (16^th test as head coach, for 10 wins and 6 losses)

Subs
16 subbed 2, 30 min 2H.
17 subbed 1, 20 min 2H.
18 subbed 3, 24 min 2H.
19 subbed 4, 38 min 2H.
20 subbed 6, 30 min 2H.
21 subbed 9, 24 min 2H.
22 subbed 12, 26 min 2H.
23 subbed 11, 30 min 2H. 

Wales (IRB rank 5 (83.36), at 03 June 2013)

Pos.	Name	Club	DOB	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
1	Ryan BEVINGTON	Ospreys	09/12/1988	24	182/112	10
2	Emyr PHILLIPS	Scarlets	22/02/1987	26	183/102	1
3	Scott ANDREWS	Cardiff Blues	01/08/1989	23	188/117	7
4	Bradley DAVIES (c)	Cardiff Blues	09/01/1987	26	198/122	39
5	Lou REED	Cardiff Blues	10/09/1987	25	199/122	4
6	Andrew COOMBS	Newport Gwent Dragons	27/10/1984	28	194/109	5
7	James KING	Ospreys	24/07/1990	22	193/105	1
8	Rob McCUSKER	Scarlets	10/12/1985	27	195/100	6
9	Lloyd WILLIAMS	Cardiff Blues	30/11/1989	23	183/89	14
10	Dan BIGGAR	Ospreys	16/10/1989	23	188/89	17
11	Dafydd HOWELLS	Ospreys	22/03/1995	18	185/96	1
12	Jonathon SPRATT	Ospreys	28/04/1986	27	188/102	3
13	Owen WILLIAMS	Cardiff Blues	02/10/1991	21	190/96	1
14	Harry ROBINSON	Cardiff Blues	16/04/1993	20	178/82	2
15	Liam WILLIAMS	Scarlets	09/04/1991	22	188/86	4
16	Scott BALDWIN	Ospreys	12/07/1988	24	190/110	(0)
17	Rhys GILL	Saracens (ENG)	30/10/1986	26	180/113	4
18	Rhodri Jones	Scarlets	23/12/1991	21	191/119	(1)
19	Andries PRETORIUS	Cardiff Blues	26/09/1985	27	194/110	1
20	Dan BAKER	Ospreys	05/07/1992	20	191/112	1
21	Tavis KNOYLE	Scarlets	02/06/1990	23	185/91	10
22	Rhys PATCHELL	Cardiff Blues	17/05/1993	20	188/95	1
23	Tom PRYDIE	Newport Gwent Dragons	23/02/1992	21	194/86	(4)

Head Coach: Robyn McBryde (Interim coach).

Subs
16 not used.
17 subbed 1, 11 min 2H.
18 not used.
19 subbed 6, 11 min 2H.
20 subbed 8, 20 min 2H.
21 subbed 9, 20 min 2H.
22 subbed 10, 24 min 2H.
23 not used.

Sources:
Statistics for Japan and Wales from RiJ database and JRFU website.

Preview
Comments by head coach Eddie Jones, “This is the strongest side we can field. Wales are ranked fifth in the world and are current European champions and although they have a number of leading players with the Lions this squad has good depth. We have prepared well and although they have chosen a big side we are up to the challenge. We want to move the ball around in the expected heat and humidity and play our Japanese style of rugby and it will be interesting to see how it works against this opposition.”

Interim captain Takashi Kikutani had the following to say, “We have Horie and Tanaka back from Super Rugby for this test. We trained really well this week and even though Wales come to Japan rank ranked fifth in the world it is the perfect opportunity for us to show we can beat this side. We accept the challenge and are going to battle it out for the full 80 minutes.”

Hooker Horie Shota fresh back from duty with the Melbourne Rebels commented, “I have just joined up with the squad and am not real sure on some of the plays but the guys have been helping me to come up to speed. We want to play with confidence and show everyone what we can do.”

Halfback Fumiaki Tanaka back in the Japan squad after playing with the Highlanders also said, “This team still has a lot of growth in it and we want to show the world what we can do. We are going to take on and beat this high-ranked Welsh side and improve our own position in the rankings.”

Starting centre Craig Wing said, “For me personally this will be the first time to run-on against one of the world’s top sides. I want to play my role and counter the physical approach the Welsh will bring to the game. We know the Welsh are big and strong and that we have to put our bodies on the line in defence.”

Prop Yusuke Nagae, back in the squad for his first test this season noted, “I’d like to thank those who supported me along the way in getting back into the team. However, getting back in the side is not the be all and end all as producing the results is everything. I want to do my all in contributing to a Japan win.”

In naming the Wales side to face Japan in the first test at the Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground in Osaka on Saturday 8 June 2013, touring head coach Robin McBryde included four uncapped players in his starting line-up including hooker Emyr Phillips, backrower James King, 18-year-old Ospreys’ wing Dafydd Howells and outside centre Owen Williams. Meanwhile, there are a further four players on the Welsh bench who will be vying to make their international debuts in hooker Scott Baldwin, No8 Andries Pretorius, flanker Dan Baker and five-eighth Rhys Patchell. Wales will be led by the most-capped player in the touring squad in the form of lock Bradley Davies with 38 caps to his name while the halfback combination of Lloyd Williams and Dan Biggar with 13 and 16 caps respectively are the only other players in double figures in the match-day XXIII for the tourists.

On Planet Rugby, McBryde was quoted as saying, “We have been impressed with the training and all the boys have put their hand up to try and get into the test team.” He added, “They are eager to get out there now, pull on the jersey and show what they can do. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them and they know the importance of wearing the jersey and representing our nation.”

Wrap
At the Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Ground in Osaka on Saturday 08 June 2013, Wales No.10 Dan Biggar got things underway kicking off to hosts Japan playing in their alternate blue jersey. In what would surely be very hot and humid conditions for the visitors the stage was set for Japan to show the European champions and fifth ranked side in the world what they are made of in the first of two tests.

Over the early exchanges both sides set about feeling each other out but the indications were there that Wales were going to play an expansive game with ball in hand. However, Japan head coach Eddie Jones made it perfectly clear in the lead up to the opening test that Japan were going to play the same kind of game to run around the bigger Welsh side in the Osaka heat.

Japan were playing a new halfback combination with Fumiaki Tanaka back from Super Rugby at scrum base with Harumichi Tatekawa outside him in the playmaking position. Tatekawa regularly played in this position at university but under Jones, Kosei Ono has been first choice in the No.10 jersey. However, with Ono out injured the bigger, stronger Tatekawa has been slotted in to face Wales.

The first scoring opportunity was given to Japan with a breakdown penalty in the 15^th minute with fullback Ayumu Goromaru raising the flags to give the home side a 3-0 lead. Japan turned down shots at penalty on a number of occasions to play the game at pace but with an easy penalty in front of the posts Goromaru potted his second penalty in the 20^th minute on the back of the sinbinning of Wales No8 Rob McCusker. That brought a brief break in proceedings with a water break but Japan were in a good position after the first quarter leading 6-0.

With Wales playing a man down with their No8 in the bin, Biggar was given the chance to close the gap in the 22^nd minute when Japan were caught off-side and he made no mistake narrowing the difference to 6-3.

Japan were proving competitive at the set pieces and also the breakdown gaining parity with their more fancied rivals. Biggar missed his second penalty in the 26^th minute even though he felt it was good, but penalties at the wrong end of the ground were starting to hurt Japan as a further breakdown indiscretion gave Biggar another shot in the 28^th minute and this time all agreed with the score locked up at 6-all.

McCusker returned to the fray in the 30^th minute to even up the numbers while at the same time Shota Horie was forced to the blood bin with Takeshi Kizu coming on as his temporary replacement. Horie was back on soon thereafter with Japan defending a midfield lineout.

A stream of turnover ball was keeping Japan on the attack with Welsh ill-discipline drawing the attention of South African referee Lourens van der Merwe. Japan kept up the pressure with a lineout and with openside flanker Michael Broadhurst skirting around the front he crossed for the first try of the test in the 37^th minute to give Japan an 11-8 lead. Goromaru could not convert the try from near the right-hand touchline but Japan had their noses in front in the shadows of halftime. There was to be no addition to the score with Japan enjoying an 11-8 lead after the opening forty minutes of play.

In a tight first half three were very few try scoring opportunities for either side with Japan capitalising on the one chance that came their way with Broadhurst crossing for the only try of the half from a five-metre lineout. The sinbinning of McCusker midway through the half did not overly hurt the visitors on the scoreboard but Japan were more and more showing that if Wales wanted to win this test they would have to work very hard for it.

As play resumed for the second half, Japan had the chance to stretch the lead when Wales were penalised in the opening minute for not rolling away at a breakdown. However, the usually very reliable Goromaru could not add the points. Wales then played their way deep into the Japan half drawing a penalty in the 6^th minute for Biggar to kick his third penalty to make it 11-9 on the scoreboard.

Ten minutes into the half Goromaru was handed another kick at penalty for another breakdown penalty and like his earlier attempt in the half he was unable to raise the flags.

As the game approached the hour mark and with Japan holding onto a two-point lead, the Welsh started to up the ante on the Japan pack at scrum time and also the lineout. This gave the backs front foot ball to use at the right end of the park. This pressure was converted into points with Biggar kicking his fourth penalty in the 60^th minute to give Wales the outright lead for the first time at 12-11.

With the pressure building it was time for the respective coaches to look to their benches while it was time for the big names to stand up. However, with Wales now in front and the game starting to swing their way, the passes started to stick for right wing Harry Robinson to cross for the first Welsh try in the 23^rd minute. Biggar added the extras to push out the lead to 19-11. After the water break, Japan had it all to do to come back from eighth points down against a Welsh side that now had their tails up.

The Japan scrum stepped up forcing a turn over feed in the 68^th minute in good field position inside the Wales 22 area. Quick ball but Japan on attack with right wing Yoshikazu Fujita going over in the corner in the 69^th minute. Goromaru was presented a difficult shot from out wide on the right-hand side of the field but the pressure kick flew straight as an arrow to close the score to 19-18.

Going into the final ten minutes of play and with only one point separating the two sides on the scoreboard, the result was resting on a knife’s edge. With five minutes to go, Wales fullback Liam Williams skied a kick direct into touch to give Japan a chance. However, Wales recovered and now playing for territory used the boot to keep Japan pinned in their own half. Composure is what was required from both sides but with Wales protecting their slim lead they were in the box seat to take the match. Replacement Rhys Patchell stretched the lead to 22-18 with a penalty in the 79^th minute meaning Japan now had to score a try if they were to record an historic win over the Six Nations champions. The hooter sounded in the background with Japan on attack and all it took was one dropped ball to bring down the curtain and a highly competitive test match.

On the field after the match Japan head coach Eddie Jones said, “We had opportunities to win but could not take them. Wales took theirs and that was the result. I am proud of the players. We defended really well and only allowed them that one try while we looked good in attack. We want to win next week in front of a full ground and I want to thank the crowd here today at Hanazono.”

Stand-in captain Takashi Kikutani said, “In front of this big crowd we wanted to give them a good result but unfortunately we fell short. We have the game next week and we want to turn it around.”

 
Japan fullback Ayumu Goromaru stands in a tackle. (JRFU, H. Nagaoka)