RUGBY IN JAPAN NEWSLETTER: Vol.10, No.25

Congratulations RIJ Newsletter 10th Anniversary 2003-2013

Whoa… Japan create their own bit of rugby history with a solid 23-8 win over Wales.

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

CONTENTS

• Wales Tour to Japan 2013
• Pacific Nations Cup 2013
• Looking Ahead: Japan v Scotland November 2013

Wales Tour to Japan 2013

Japan 23 d Wales 8

Japan 23 – Tries: Craig Wing and Michael Broadhurst; Conversions: Ayumu Goromaru 2; Penalties: Ayumu Goromaru 3 d.

Wales 8 – Try: Tom Prydie; Penalty: Dan Biggar.

Competition: Wales Tour to Japan 2013.
Date: Saturday 15 June 2013.
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.
Japan Test Number: 290.
Japan Game Number: TBC.

Kick-off: 14:00 local time (05:00 GMT/UTC).

Referee: Greg Garner (England) (7^th test). Assistant Referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa) and Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan).

Conditions: Maximum forecast for Tokyo 27 degrees Celsius, high humidity, hazy with slight breeze. Surface well-grassed, firm and fast.

Attendance: 21,062.

Wrap

In the reverse from the previous week, Japan were playing in their regular strip while Wales were wearing black jerseys, shorts and socks with red flashes through the flanks for the second test at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday 15 June 2013.

The maximum forecast for Tokyo for the day was given as 27 degrees Celsius and with light cloud and almost no breeze on a picture perfect pitch Wales five-eighth Dan Biggar got the test underway kicking off with Japan defending the northern scoreboard end of the ground in the opening half.

Wales applied the pressure from the outset drawing the first scoring opportunity in the second minute after the Japan forwards were caught coming into a ruck from the side. Biggar took the shot at the posts from some 40 metres out on the left hand side of the field but could not raise the flags. Nevertheless, Wales remained camped in the Japan half for the next ten minutes, even turning down a relatively easy attempt at penalty in the fourth minute to keep the pressure up with a lineout deep in the Japan 22 area.

The Japan defence was proving to be up to the task and when Wales were penalised on attack at a breakdown in front of the Japan posts feisty halfback Fumiaki Tanaka tried to wrestle the ball from the hands of his opposite number in Lloyd Williams and with Williams holding on both sets of forwards rushed in to sort out their differences. Once the dust settled, play resumed with no harm done but it also showed that the hosts had brought their A-game in attitude in refusing to take a backward step.

In the 14^th minute, Wales were penalised at a breakdown for going off their feet on their own ball and this presented fullback Ayumu Goromaru with his first chance for points. Although he was a long way out, the penalty was pretty much in front of the posts and what was virtually the first time Japan had ventured into the Wales half they came away with the points to take an early 3-0 lead.

The test was now starting to settle into its rhythm with very little between the two sides. Japan had weathered the early Welsh attacks and with some good front foot ball of their own they were taking the game to their distinguished visitors. Tanaka for one was showing that the time he spent in New Zealand was all for the better with constant snipes around the ruck keeping the Wales defence on its toes around the fringes.

In the 21^st minute Biggar evened up the score at 3-all when Japan were caught off-side at a quick ruck with Wales once again on attack in the Japan danger zone. After the kick English referee Greg Garner called time for a relieving water break in the trying conditions. At the resumption of play, Japan five-eighth Harumichi Tatekawa put the re-start straight into touch giving Wales a midfield scrum. Japan were then penalised at the ensuing scrum allowing Biggar to kick deep into Japanese territory for a lineout on the eastern side of the ground.

Once more, the Japan defence fronted up eventually putting the Welsh into touch for a line out of their own. Hooker Shota Horie threw long and the ball was then cleared well up field to relieve the pressure.

Over the first half hour of play Wales dominated possession and territory but even so were unable to turn this advantage into points. At times the Welsh backs were looking predictable in attack allowing the Japan defence to drift easily and pick off the ball carrier. However, Harry Robinson, the try scorer for Wales from the first test was proving a handful to contain when he had the opportunity to move off his right wing but there still seemed to be no way through the solid Japan defence.

It was then Japanese that had the next chance for points from another breakdown penalty in the 34^th minute. The kick was just inside the Welsh half but Goromaru landed the kick with aplomb to once again edge his side in front to the tune of 6-3. Neither side could add to the scoreboard over the remainder of the half with Japan taking this three-point lead into the half time break. The tryless opening half followed a hard-fought pattern similar to the first test in Osaka last Saturday with only the three penalties bothering the scorekeeper. However, the near-capacity crowd and the effects of the telling heat and humidity would surely work in favour of Japan over the second half should the score remain tight over the closing stages of the test.

Tatekawa kicked off for Japan to get the second half underway and from the outset it was obvious Wales were trying to up the ante in an attempt to get in front and take the game beyond the grasp of the hosts. Early in the half Robinson found himself in a one-on-one situation with Japan left wing Kenki Fukuoka, but the 20 year old held his nerve and herded the Welsh flyer towards the right-hand touchline where a try-saving tackle just outside the Japan goal line saved the day.

Japan methodically cleared the ball from the ensuing five-metre lineout but his had the effect of handing Wales another chance to attack with a lineout of their own inside the Japan twenty-two. Wales quickly worked the ball left from the lineout creating space out wide for a long pass to unmarked left wing Tom Prydie to dot down in the corner in the fourth minute. Biggar could not add the extras but Wales now had their noses in front 8-6 in a situation reminiscent of the first test. It now remained to be seen if Wales could build on their lead or whether Japan had the mental fortitude to fight back for what would be an historic first-ever win over a top-ranked European side in a full test match.

Japan were not about to let Wales further their lead and with the hosts on attack in the Welsh 22, the ball was shifted right where centre Craig Wing wiggled through a seemingly impregnable space for a try in the tenth minute that in reality he should never have been allowed to score. Goromaru then put the icing on the cake with the successful conversion from the right-hand touchline to put Japan back in front 13-8.

The large crowd was now starting to get behind the home side that was beginning to build in confidence while at the same time the Welsh were looking a little flustered.

The test was now at a crucial point and former captain in No8 Takashi Kikutani led from the front in helping to maintain the momentum carrying the ball strongly. Japan then went all out in attack knowing that more point would make it increasingly difficult for Wales to stage a comeback. The turning point in the test came in the 19^th minute with Welsh flanker Josh Navidi down injured leaving the defensive line one man short and risky passes started to stick in the high-paced Japan attack catching Wales short out wide for flanker Michael Broadhurst to score the second Japanese try in a position on the field similar to the first. Just like the first try too, Goromaru landed the conversion from the right-hand touchline to widen the gap to 20-8 with a quarter of the game to play.

Wales were still in the game and although there was plenty of time left on the clock they had to be next to score in order to close what was now a twelve-point gap. Referee Garner called for the second half water break with the clock stopped on twenty-five minutes allowing the sides to conference how they were going to consolidate their lead in the case of Japan and how they were going to salvage a win in the case of Wales.

On the resumption of play, the clock was ticking down and the signs were there that Wales were more and more forced into risky catch-up football in order to chase the game. Predictably, the boisterous crowd rose to the occasion sensing that the historic win was there for Japan.

The killer blow came in the 36^th minute when Wales were penalised for a high tackle on wing Fukuoka and Goromaru stepped up to the mark to make it a perfect day with the boot when he slotted his third penalty to go with his two sideline conversions and put the result all but beyond doubt. The 23-8 lead gave Japan a 15-point buffer meaning Wales would have to score at least three tries in the remaining time if they were to deny Japan the win.

As it turned out, Wales could make no impression on the scoreboard leaving Japan to take the fulltime whistle and the result 23-8.

On the field after the match Japan head coach Eddie Jones had the following to say, “I’m really proud of the players and the staff. Wales have a number of leading players not with them but this was a real step up for Japanese rugby. It’s fantastic to see 25,000 here today to support the team and it shows we can pull big crowds and host such games.”

At the same time, Japan captain Toshiaki Hirose said, “I would like to thank the crowd here today and also at Hanazono last week. It is great to beat a top five team in royalty like Wales. This team continues to improve but we still have a long way to go as our aim is to become a top ten ranked team.”

At the official post-match press conference, Wales head coach Robyn McBryde said, “We turned the ball over nine times in the opposition 22 and if you don’t take those opportunities you pay the ultimate price. As the game wore on Japan got stronger and stronger. Not to take anything away from Japan as we knew they’d come out firing and the speed of the ball Japan played at the breakdown area was hard for us. The boys gave 100% but we were just not good enough on the day. Full credit to Japan as these were test match conditions with the crowd and the heat. That was a true international test match. We are obviously disappointed to lose this test. It hurts but there is no shame in losing.”

Wales captain Bradley Davies commented, “It was hotter than last week. Tough but we’ve had two weeks to adjust. If we’d scored when we had the opportunities we would have been up by 20 points. However, in the future, these boys will know what it’s all about.”

Jones further commented, “This team created history today. It’s another step forward for the team and it gives us the incentive to work harder. In the second half we won the game through the scrum and you probably didn’t think you’d ever hear that from a Japanese team playing Wales. Further, it was the players’ attitude to keep fighting. If you don’t do it for 80 minutes you don’t win big games. We did that today and that has to be the norm from now on. We are a long way from being a top ten team but we are moving in the right direction.”

Japan halfback Fumiaki Tanaka sniping around the fringes. (JRFU, H. Nagaoka)

Japan (IRB rank 15 (68.91), at 10 June 2013)

Pos.	Name (Test Player Number)	Club	DOB	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
1	Masataka MIKAMI (TBC)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	04/06/1988	25	178/115	7
2	Shota HORIE (530)	Panasonic Wild Knights	21/01/1986	27	180/105	21
3	Hiroshi YAMASHITA (523)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	01/01/1986	27	183/120	23
4	Hitoshi ONO (445)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	06/05/1978	35	192/106	71
5	Shoji ITO (553)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	02/12/1980	32	191/100	15
6	Hendrik TUI (565)	Suntory Sungoliath	13/12/1987	25	189/107	12
7	Michael BROADHURST (566)	Ricoh Black Rams	30/10/1986	26	196/111	10
8	Takashi KIKUTANI (474)	Toyota Verblitz	24/02/1980	33	187/104	61
9	Fumiaki TANAKA (510)	Panasonic Wild Knights	03/01/1985	28	166/71	35
10	Harumichi TATEKAWA (557)	Kubota Spears	02/12/1989	23	181/94	17
11	Kenki FUKUOKA (TBC)	Tsukuba University	07/09/1992	20	175/81	6
12	Craig WING (TBC)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	26/12/1979	33	180/90	4
13	Male SAU (TBC)	Yamaha Jubilo	13/10/1987	25	183/97	7
14	Toshiaki HIROSE (c) (495)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	17/10/1981	31	173/83	13
15	Ayumu GOROMARU (467)	Yamaha Jubilo	01/03/1986	27	185/99	27
16	Takeshi KIZU (534)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	15/07/1988	24	183/113	20
17	Yusuke NAGAE (551)	Ricoh Black Rams	19/07/1985	27	171/107	11
18	Kensuke HATAKEYAMA (515)	Suntory Sungoliath	02/08/1985	27	178/115	44
19	Shinya MAKABE (533)	Suntory Sungoliath	26/03/1987	26	192/118	15
20	Justin IVES (544)	Canon Eagles	24/05/1984	29	196/105	12
21	Atsushi HIWASA (545)	Suntory Sungoliath	22/05/1987	26	166/72	25
22	Yu TAMURA (555)	NEC Green Rockets	09/01/1989	24	181/92	11
23	Yoshikazu FUJITA (562)	Waseda University	08/09/1993	19	184/90	7

Head Coach: Eddie Jones (AUS). (17^th test as head coach, for 11 wins and 6 losses)

Subs
16 subbed 6, 39 min 2H.
17 subbed 1, 29 min 2H.
18 subbed 3, 5 min 2H.
19 subbed 5, 5 min 2H.
20 subbed 4, 34 min 2H.
21 subbed 9, 27 min 2H.
22 subbed 12, 29 min 2H.
23 subbed 11, 39 min 2H. (Blood bin replacement 14, 21-26 mins1H).

NB: The IRB announced a number of global law amendment trials to start on 1 September 2012 in the northern hemisphere and 1 January in the southern hemisphere. One of these amendments is to permit international teams to nominate up to eight replacements.

Wales (IRB rank 5 (83.36), at 10 June 2013)

Pos.	Name	Club	DOB	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
1	Rhys GILL	Saracens (ENG)	30/10/1986	26	180/113	5
2	Emyr PHILLIPS	Scarlets	22/02/1987	26	183/102	2
3	Scott ANDREWS	Cardiff Blues	01/08/1989	23	188/117	8
4	Bradley DAVIES (c)	Cardiff Blues	09/01/1987	26	198/122	40
5	Lou REED	Cardiff Blues	10/09/1987	25	199/122	5
6	James KING	Ospreys	24/07/1990	22	193/105	2
7	Josh NAVIDI	Cardiff Blues	30/12/1990	22	185/95	1
8	Andries PRETORIUS	Cardiff Blues	26/09/1985	27	193/110	2
9	Lloyd WILLIAMS	Cardiff Blues	30/11/1989	23	183/89	15
10	Dan BIGGAR	Ospreys	16/10/1989	23	188/89	18
11	Tom PRYDIE	Newport Gwent Dragons	23/02/1992	21	194/86	5
12	Jonathon SPRATT	Ospreys	28/04/1986	27	188/102	4
13	Owen WILLIAMS	Cardiff Blues	02/10/1991	21	190/96	2
14	Harry ROBINSON	Cardiff Blues	16/04/1993	20	178/82	3
15	Liam WILLIAMS	Scarlets	09/04/1991	22	188/86	5
16	Scott BALDWIN	Ospreys	12/07/1988	24	190/110	1
17	Rhodri Jones	Scarlets	23/12/1991	21	191/119	2
18	Craig MITCHELL	Exeter Chiefs (ENG)	03/05/1986	27	185/119	15
19	Andrew COOMBS	Newport Gwent Dragons	27/10/1984	28	194/109	6
20	Dan BAKER	Ospreys	05/07/1992	20	191/112	2
21	Tavis KNOYLE	Scarlets	02/06/1990	23	185/91	11
22	Rhys PATCHELL	Cardiff Blues	17/05/1993	20	188/95	2
23	Dafydd HOWELLS	Ospreys	22/03/1995	18	185/96	2

Head Coach: Robyn McBryde (Interim coach).

Subs
16 subbed 2, 34 min 2H.
17 subbed 1, 16 min 2H.
18 subbed 3, 16 min 2H.
19 subbed 5, 9 min 2H.
20 subbed 7, 32 min 2H.
21 subbed 9, 10 min 2H.
22 subbed 13, 24 min 1H.
23 subbed 15, 13 min 2H.

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

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013

Tonga 18 d USA 9

Date: Friday 14 June 2013
Venue: Home Depot Centre, Carson, California
Kick-off: 19:30

After losing 36-27 to Canada in Ottawa and having three players suspended Tonga made amends with a clinical 18-9 win over the USA in Carson, California on Friday 14 June 2013 for their second win in the tournament. Two tries from centre Sione Piukala proved the difference in the end leaving the hosts to lick their wounds as they were unable to cross for a five pointer in what now amount to the third test in a row. Fullback Chris Wyles potted three first half penalties for the Eagles but that was to be the extent of the American scoring as the islanders dominated up front and strangled the life out of game. Both sides now head to Japan where Tonga take on Fiji while the USA will face Fiji in Nagoya midweek and then hosts Japan in Tokyo on Sunday to close the tournament. Winless Japan and the USA are out of contention, but unbeaten Canada on 12 points, Tonga on 10 points and Fiji on 6 points with a game in hand are all in with a shot at the title.

Canada 36 d Tonga 27

Date: Saturday 08 June 2013
Venue: Richardson Stadium, Kingston
Kick-off: 14:10

After defeating North American rivals the USA 16-9 in Edmonton in their opening game and then pulling off a gritty 20-18 win over Fiji in a mid-week game in Ottawa, Canada made it three wins from three starts with a 36-27 win over an ill-disciplined Tonga in Kingston, Ontario on Saturday 08 June 2013. James Pritchard kicked three first half penalties to help the hosts to a 9-7 lead at the break in a half of rugby that also saw Tongan prop Eddie Aholelei red-carded for punching. Three yellow cards were then handed out in the latter half with Tongan centre Sione Piukala and replacement Tevita Halaifonua both spending ten minutes on the sidelines while Canadian Tyler Ardron was also sinbinned by referee JP Doyle. Pritchard ended up with 23 points from the game kicking all seven kicks at conversion and penalty as well as scoring a try. With Tonga reduced to 12 men at one point in the second half and although the result was beyond doubt the visitors put on a late rally to eventually out-score Canada four tries to three to at least finish with a bonus point. Canada have one remaining game to play against Japan but they have opened up a sizeable gap on the table with 12 points from Fiji and Tonga on 6 points with a game in hand and are now in the box seat to take the title.

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013 Schedule and Results

Date	Team	Score	Team	Kick-off	Venue	Referee
Saturday 25 May 2013	Japan	17-27	Tonga	14:10	Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium, Yokohama	Angus Gardner (AUS)
	Canada	16-9	USA	14:10	Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton	Francisco Pastrana (ARG)
Saturday 01 June 2013	Fiji	22-8	Japan	15:40	Churchill Park, Lautoka	Garratt Williamson (NZL)
Wednesday 05 June 2013	Canada	20-18	Fiji	18:40	Twin Elms Rugby Park, Nepean	JP Doyle (ENG)
Saturday 08 June 2013	Canada	36-27	Tonga	14:10	Richardson Stadium, Kingston	JP Doyle (ENG)
Friday 14 June 2013	USA	9-18	Tonga	19:30	Home Depot Centre, Carson, California	Francisco Pastrana (ARG)
Wednesday 19 June 2013	Fiji	-	USA	17:10	Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, Nagoya	Greg Garner (ENG)
	Japan	-	Canada	19:10	Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, Nagoya	Jonathon White (NZL)
Sunday 23 June 2013	Tonga	-	Fiji	12:10	Chichibu, Tokyo	TBC
	Japan	-	USA	14:10	Chichibu, Tokyo	TBC

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013 Table

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	BP1	BP2	Pts
Canada	3	3	0	0	72	54	18	0	0	12
Tonga	3	2	0	1	72	62	10	1	1	10
Fiji	2	1	0	1	40	28	12	1	1	6
USA	2	0	0	2	18	37	-19	0	1	1
Japan	2	0	0	2	25	49	-24	0	0	0

Four points for win, two points for draw, one bonus point for scoring four tries or more (BP1) and one for losing by seven points or less (BP2).

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead gives the reader future dates for the diary and other great things to look forward to in Rugby in Japan.

Autumn 2013

On 26 April 2013, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced that Japan would play Scotland on Saturday 09 November 2013 at an unconfirmed venue with a 14:30 kick-off. Scotland complete their autumn campaign with tests against South Africa on Sunday 17 and Australia on Saturday 23 November 2013 with the later two tests to be played at Murrayfield.

Tatsuzo Yabe made the following comment, “It is nine years since Japan has played Scotland in Scotland. Japan aims to break into the top ten rankings by the 2015 Rugby World Cup and it is important for us to play against strong sides in order to achieve that aim. It is also important for Japan to make a good impression on this tour in the lead up to hosting the 2019 RWC.”

 Head coach Eddie Jones made the following comment, “It is a very vital step in that we could secure this test against Scotland. The last time Japan played in Scotland in November 2004 the side could not produce a good result. In our build-up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup, this test against Scotland is a big challenge for us. Scotland has one of the longest rugby traditions and they play a physical kind of game. To be sure, this will be a fantastic experience for our players.”