RUGBY IN JAPAN NEWSLETTERS 30-31

Congratulations RIJ Newsletter 10th Anniversary 2003-2013

Below are the highlights of Ian’s recent newsletters

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

CONTENTS

• Autumn 2013-NZ v Japan, Japan v Scotland
• Into The Future-International tours to Japan
• The 2^nd IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013

Autumn 2013

 Japan v New Zealand

Date: Saturday, 02 November 2013.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off: TBC.

On 12 July 2013, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced that New Zealand would tour Japan in November 2013 playing one test against Japan at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Saturday, 02 November 2013. The JRFU and the New Zealand Rugby Union have agreed that this game will have full test match status with caps awarded accordingly on both sides.

JRFU chairman Tatsuzo Yabe made the following comment, “Both the JRFU and the NZRU have agreed that this game will have full test match status. Japan hopes to break into the world top ten by Rugby World Cup 2015 and in order to achieve this goal it is essential that we play against the strongest sides in the world. This year, Japan will play four tests against tier one unions in a single year for the first time and it is important we are competitive. Further, having the All Blacks play in Japan at this time will also help promote RWC 2019 to be hosted by Japan. Beating Wales and finishing the spring international season with three wins in a row has had a big impact on Japanese rugby and to host the All Blacks at a packed Chichibu stadium in November will continue this trend.”

Head coach Eddie Jones made the following comment, “For Japan to play New Zealand as the current World Cup holders and number one ranked team in the world is very fortunate. Japan does not have a good record against the All Blacks but we recently made history with the win over Wales and we want to repeat that against New Zealand. To beat the All Blacks the preparation starts now. They do not only present a physical challenge but we also have to think about how we can do things differently. If we can do that then I believe we can create another piece of history.”

The CEO of the NZRU, Steve Tew, said, “The All Blacks are very honoured to again visit Japan to take on the Japanese ‘Brave Blossoms’. Further, we hope that this test match will help support Japan in hosting RWC 2019.”

The New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen said, “We are very much looking forward to playing Japan in Tokyo in this historical test match. This test fits well with our overall strategic planning for the year in strengthening the leadership within the All Blacks while also adding to the depth in the ranks. Further, it will be a wonderful opportunity for the younger players to challenge for the chance to wear the black jersey.”

Scotland v Japan

Date: Saturday, 09 November 2013.

Venue: TBC.

Kick-off: TBC.

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.”

Into the Future

With the IRB working towards re-introducing traditional long tours there will be spin-offs for Japan in the lead-up to this country hosting the 2019 RWC. Although it is not set in concrete, a bevy of tier one countries are pencilled in to tour Japan with Wales touring in 2013, Scotland in 2016, Ireland in 2017 and Italy in 2018.

The 2^nd IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013: 29-30 June
2013Moscow, Russia

The IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 was held at The Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in Russia from Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 June 2013.

Sixteen nations competed in the second women’s RWC.

In the final, New Zealand defeated Canada 29-12 to take out the second IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 title.

For Japan it was not such a happy ending with losses to Russia, England and France in their Pool D games. Japan then went down 19-14 to the Netherlands in the Bowl quarterfinals to be knocked out of the tournament.

Rugby World Cup Sevens Champions:
2013: New Zealand.
2009: Australia.

Women’s Teams:
The sixteen participating teams were: New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands, Tunisia, Australia, Ireland, South Africa, China, USA, Spain, Brazil, Fiji, Russia, England, France and Japan.

Women’s Pools:
The sixteen teams were divided into four pools of four teams as follows. 

A	B	C	D
New Zealand	Australia	USA	Russia
Canada	Ireland	Spain	England
Netherlands	South Africa	Brazil	France
Tunisia	China	Fiji	Japan

The Japan Sevens Squad (Women)

	Name	Club	DOB	Age	Hgt/Wgt
1	Chiharu NAKAMURA (c)	Phoenix	25/04/1988	25	162/63
2	Ayaka SUZUKI	Rissho University	30/09/1989	23	168/62
3	Misaki SUZUKI	Kanto Gakuin University	09/04/1992	21	163/64
4	Kana MITSUGI	Rissho University	28/06/1992	21	171/73
5	Akari FUJISAKI	Rugirl-7	16/10/1984	28	168/71
6	Makiko TOMITA	Setagaya Ladies	02/08/1991	21	170/62
7	Noriko TANIGUCHI	Setagaya Ladies	07/09/1992	20	168/64
8	Yume OKURODA	Rissho University	06/07/1994	19	155/59
9	Yoko SUZUKI	Rissho University	23/06/1993	20	151/49
10	Chisato YOKOO	Setagaya Ladies	22/05/1992	21	164/58
11	Marie YAMAGUCHI	Rugirl-7	22/10/1989	23	159/55
12	Chikami INOUE	RKU Rugby	10/04/1991	22	166/59

Head Coach: Keiko Asami

Pool D Games for Japan

Day 1: Saturday, 29 June 2013

(11:34) – Russia 14 d Japan 10

Japan: 4- Kana Mitsugi, 1- Chiharu Nakamura (c), 6- Makiko Tomita, 9- Yoko Suzuki, 8- Yume Okuroda, 2- Ayaka Suzuki, 11- Marie Yamaguchi.

Reserves: 3- Misaki Suzuki, 5- Akari Fujisaki, 7- Noriko Taniguchi, 10- Chisato Yokoo, 12- Chikami Inoue.

Japan Scorers: Tries: Yoko Suzuki 2.

In their opening match against tournament hosts Russia, both sides scored two tries apiece in a tight battle that was eventually decided by goal kicking with Russia converting their two tries to sneak home 14-10. Yoko Suzuki scored a try in either half but Yume Okuroda was unable to add the extras on both occasions but that proved the difference in the end. Looking for their first ever RWC win, Japan came close against Russia, but to put things in perspective, captain Chiharu Nakamura said after the match, “If we play our usual game we aren’t going to beat the top sides in the world.”

(14:30) – England 39 d Japan 0

Japan: 4- Kana Mitsugi, 1- Chiharu Nakamura (c), 6- Makiko Tomita, 9- Yoko Suzuki, 8- Yume Okuroda, 2- Ayaka Suzuki, 11- Marie Yamaguchi.

Reserves: 3- Misaki Suzuki, 5- Akari Fujisaki, 7- Noriko Taniguchi, 10- Chisato Yokoo, 12- Chikami Inoue.

Japan Scorers: Tries: None.

In their pool match, Japan came up against the might of England. The English girls had too much firepower running in seven unanswered tries as the Japanese had no way of combating the size and power of the opposition. The Japanese cause was not helped when Yume Okuroda was sent off late in the first half allowing England to control the flow of the game in the second half. Katy McLean was instrumental in securing the win for England with a try and two conversions. After the match, Japan head coach Keiko Asami said, “England overwhelmed us with their power game, while their options and decision making was impressive.”

(17:26) – France 43 d Japan 0

Japan: 4- Kana Mitsugi, 5- Akari Fujisaki, 6- Makiko Tomita, 9- Yoko Suzuki, 1- Chiharu Nakamura (c), 2- Ayaka Suzuki, 11- Marie Yamaguchi.

Reserves: 3- Misaki Suzuki, 7- Noriko Taniguchi, 8- Yume Okuroda, 10- Chisato Yokoo, 12- Chikami Inoue.

 Japan Scorers: Tries: None.

In the third and final Pool D match, things did not get any easier for Japan against a free-running French side. The French were unstoppable as they crossed for seven tries and then booted four conversions on their way to a comfortable 43-0 win. After their third loss in a row, captain Nakamura wrapped up the pool games for Japan with the following comments, “We weren’t able to do what we had trained to do. We couldn’t find our rhythm. We have to go back to basics and improve our mental approach to the game.”

Bowl Knock-out Games for Japan

Day 2: Sunday, 30 June 2013

Bowl Quarterfinal (11:00) – Netherlands 19 d Japan 14

Japan: 6- Makiko Tomita, 1- Chiharu Nakamura (c), 5- Akari Fujisaki, 9- Yoko Suzuki, 8- Yume Okuroda, 2- Ayaka Suzuki, 11- Marie Yamaguchi.

Reserves: 3- Misaki Suzuki, 4- Kana Mitsugi, 7- Noriko Taniguchi, 10- Chisato Yokoo, 12- Chikami Inoue.

Japan Scorers: Tries: Chiharu Nakamura and Kana Mitsugi; Conversions: Yume Okuroda 2.

Japan finished fourth in Pool D and this put them into the Bowl tournament at the knock-out stages of RWC 2013. Their first-up opponent in the quarterfinal was the Netherlands with Dutch taking the spoils to the tune of 19-14, knocking Japan out of the World Cup in the process. In a game of contrasting halves, the Netherlands scored all their points in the first half to lead 19-0 at the break while Japan then scored all their points in the latter half but were unable to overcome the deficit. Bowing out of the tournament with four straight losses, captain Nakamura reflected, “This side has grown a lot in Moscow, but we still have many things to work on. Today against the Netherlands we found a pretty good rhythm at times but could not go on with the job.”