RUGBY IN JAPAN NEWSLETTER: Vol.10, No.23

Congratulations RIJ Newsletter 10th Anniversary 2003-2013

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

CONTENTS

• IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013

Results So Far
25.05.2013 Tonga 27, Japan 17 in Yokohama
25.05.2013 Canada 16, USA 9 in Edmonton
01.06.2013 Fiji 22, Japan 8 in Lautoka

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013 Table

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	BP1	BP2	Pts
Fiji	1	1	0	0	22	8	14	1	0	5
Tonga	1	1	0	0	27	17	10	1	0	5
Canada	1	1	0	0	16	9	7	0	0	4
USA	1	0	0	1	9	19	-7	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).

Fiji 22 d Japan 8

Fiji 22 – Tries: Sireli Bobo, Api Naikatini, Aisea Natoga and Nemani Nadolo; Conversion: Setareki Koroilagilagi d.

Japan 8 – Try: Kenki Fukuoka; Penalty: Ayumu Goromaru.

Competition: IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013.
Date: Saturday 01 June 2013.
Venue: Churchill Park, Lautoka.
Japan Test Number: 288.
Japan Game Number: TBC.
Kick-off: 15:40 local time (03:40 GMT/UTC).

Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand) (2^nd Test). Assistant Referees: Sam Tuidraki (Fiji) and Mikea Rokodrakia (Fiji).

Conditions: Maximum forecast for Lautoka 30 degrees Celsius, thunderstorms. Surface very heavy and water-logged.

Attendance: 3,500.
Halftime: Fiji 5 – Japan 0.
Match Points: Fiji 5, Japan 0.
Man of the Match:

Head-to-head Encounters:
Japan and Fiji have met on fifteen occasions dating back to 1990. Fiji have won twelve and Japan three.

Although Fiji won the inaugural meeting between these two nations in 1990, Japan then won the two home test in 1994. However, Fiji went on to win the next nine tests played between 1999 and 2010 before Japan chalked up their third win in Lautoka in 2011on their way to winning the Pacific Nations Cup that year.

The highest scoring wins for Japan were 24-18 in Matsuyama in May 1994 and 24-13 in Lautoka in July 2011, while the biggest winning margin was 12 points in the 20-8 win in May 1994 at the National Stadium in Tokyo. Although Japan scored 39 points against Fiji in Suva in 2009, the home side scored a dramatic converted try in extra time to win 40-39. The longest winning sequence for Japan is two wins in a row in 1994.

The highest scoring win for Fiji was 47-22 in 2000, while the biggest winning margin was 28 points in the 41-13 win at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The longest winning sequence for Fiji is nine wins between 1999 and 2010.

Of the fifteen tests played, seven have been played in Japan, while six games have been played in Fiji and two have been played on the neutral territory of Toulouse in France during the 2007 Rugby World Cup and Townsville in Australia during the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Official test results for Japan against Fiji

No.	Date	Result (Home – Away)	Venue	Tournament	Japan Test No.	W/D/L (For Japan)
15	01 Jun 2013	Fiji 22 – Japan 8	Churchill Park, Lautoka	8th PNC	288	Lost
14	05 Jun 2012	Japan 19 – Fiji 25	Mizuho, Nagoya	7th PNC	278	Lost
13	13 Jul 2011	Fiji 13 – Japan 24	Churchill Park, Lautoka	6th PNC	267	Won
12	12 Jun 2010	Fiji 22 – Japan 8	Churchill Park, Lautoka	5th PNC	256	Lost
11	03 Jul 2009	Fiji 40 – Japan 39	National Stadium, Suva	4th PNC	249	Lost
10	22 Jun 2008	Japan 12 – Fiji 24	National Stadium, Tokyo	3rd PNC	237	Lost
9	12 Sep 2007	Fiji 35 – Japan 31	Toulouse	6th RWC	228	Lost
8	26 May 2007	Fiji 30 – Japan 15	Churchill Park, Lautoka	2nd PNC	221	Lost
7	01 Jul 2006	Japan 15 – Fiji 29	Nagai, Osaka	P5N	216	Lost
6	23 Oct 2003	Fiji 41 – Japan 13	Townsville	5th RWC	191	Lost
5	20 May 2000	Japan 22 – Fiji 47	Chichibu, Tokyo	5th PRC	162	Lost
4	05 Jun 1999	Fiji 16 – Japan 9	Churchill Park, Lautoka	4th PRC	156	Lost
3	15 May 1994	Japan 20 – Fiji 8	National Stadium, Tokyo		120	Won
2	08 May 1994	Japan 24 – Fiji 18	Matsuyama, Ehime		119	Won
1	04 Mar 1990	Japan 6 – Fiji 32	Chichibu, Tokyo		102	Lost

P5N = Pacific Five Nations (2006 only).
PNC = Pacific Nations Cup. The 2006 P5N evolved into the PNC from 2007 and thus 2007 can be considered the ‘second’ PNC.
PRC = Pacific Rim Championship.
RWC = Rugby World Cup.

Japan (IRB rank 15 (69.39), at 27 May 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	5
2	Yusuke AOKI (490)	Suntory Sungoliath	19/06/1983	29	176/97	28
3	Kensuke HATAKEYAMA (515)	Suntory Sungoliath	02/08/1985	27	178/115	42
4	Hitoshi ONO (445)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	06/05/1978	35	192/105	69
5	Michael BROADHURST (566)	Ricoh Black Rams	30/10/1986	26	196/111	8
6	Michael LEITCH (518)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	07/10/1988	24	190/105	29
7	Hendrik TUI (565)	Suntory Sungoliath	13/12/1987	25	189/108	10
8	Takashi KIKUTANI (c) (474)	Toyota Verblitz	24/02/1980	33	187/105	59
9	Atsushi HIWASA (545)	Suntory Sungoliath	22/05/1987	26	166/72	23
10	Yu TAMURA (555)	NEC Green Rockets	09/01/1989	24	181/92	9
11	Hirotoki ONOZAWA (416)	Suntory Sungoliath	29/03/1978	35	180/87	80
12	Harumichi TATEKAWA (557)	Kubota Spears	02/12/1989	23	181/95	15
13	Male SAU (TBC)	Yamaha Jubilo	13/10/1987	25	183/97	5
14	Yuta IMAMURA (480)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	31/10/1984	28	178/93	37
15	Ayumu GOROMARU (467)	Yamaha Jubilo	01/03/1986	27	185/99	25
16	Takeshi KIZU (534)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	15/07/1988	24	183/114	18
17	Takuma ASAHARA (TBC)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	07/09/1987	25	179/113	5
18	Hiroshi YAMASHITA (523)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	01/01/1986	27	183/122	21
19	Toshizumi KITAGAWA (473)	Toyota Verblitz	07/02/1981	32	195/112	42
20	Shoji ITO (553)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	02/12/1980	32	191/101	13
21	Keisuke UCHIDA (558)	Tsukuba University	22/02/1992	21	177/84	4
22	Craig WING (TBC)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	26/12/1979	33	180/90	2
23	Kenki FUKUOKA (TBC)	Tsukuba University	07/09/1992	20	175/83	4

Head Coach: Eddie Jones (AUS). (15^th test as head coach, for 10 wins and 5 losses)

Subs
16 subbed 2, 16 min 2H.
17 subbed 1, 34 min 2H.
18 subbed 3, 6 min 2H.
19 subbed 6, 6 min 2H.
20 subbed 4, 31 min 2H.
21 subbed 8, 31 min 2H.
22 subbed 10, 18 min 2H.
23 subbed 11, 18 min 2H.

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.

Fiji (IRB rank 14 (71.52), at 27 May 2013)

Pos.	Name	Club	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
1	Setefano SOMOCA	Sigatoka, Nadroga	32	185/122	12
2	Talemaitoga TUAPATI	Southland (NZL)	28	180/107	17
3	Jerry YANUYANUTAWA	London Irish (ENG)	28	182/114	5
4	Pisa RATUNIYARAWA	Mahurangi (NZL)	26	198/114	3
5	Wame LEWARAVU	Stade Montois (FRA)	30	196/114	18
6	Apisai NAIKATINI	Toyota Verblitz (JPN)	29	196/115	7
7	Akapusi QERA (c)	Gloucester (ENG)	29	193/102	28
8	Netani TALEI	Edinburgh (SCO)	30	190/110	25
9	Nemia KENATALE	Southland (NZL)	27	179/85	19
10	Setareki KOROILAGILAGI	Army	28	183/94	3
11	Sireli BOBO	Racing Metro 92 (FRA)	37	190/99	11
12	Leone TABUARUA	Fire	27	160?/100	1
13	Nemani NADOLO	NEC Green Rockets (JPN)	25	195/125	4
14	Adriu DELAI	Stade Rodez Aveyron (FRA)	28	187/93	4
15	Simeli KONIFEREDI	King Country (NZL)	28	175/85	5
16	Viliame VEIKOSO	Navoci	31	178/102	20
17	Manasa SAULO	Navy	24	193/119	3
18	Campese MA’AFU	Cardiff Blues (WAL)	28	182/114	15
19	Rupeni NASIGA	Plymouth Albion RFC (ENG)	27	194/104	12
20	Mala RAVULO	North Harbour (NZL)	29	190/107	15
21	Nikola MATAWALU	Glasgow Warriors (SCO)	24	179/85	9
22	Jiuta LATUMAILAGI	Nadroga	28	N/A	1
23	Aisea NATOGA	Tuva	22	187/91	2

Head Coach: Inoke Male. (7^th test for 4 wins and 3 losses)

Subs
16 subbed 2, 30 min 2H.
17 subbed 1, 0 min 2H.
18 subbed 3, 6 min 2H.
19 subbed 5, 22 min 2H.
20 subbed 7, 26 min 2H.
21 subbed 10, 30 min 2H.
22 subbed 15, 18 min 2H.
23 subbed 14, 21 min 2H.

Sources:
Statistics for Japan and Tonga from RiJ database, IRB Match Preview and JRFU website.

Preview

At the team announcement for the Japan side to face Fiji in Lautoka on Saturday 01 June 2013 in their second game in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013, head coach Eddie Jones said, “This is the strongest side we can field at the moment. The starting line-up is slightly different to the one that took on Tonga last weekend with Michael Broadhurst moving into the second row for the injured Shinya Makabe. Also, Michael Leitch is back in the team on the side of the scrum after recovering from a fractured arm. Like Makabe, Kosei Ono is out injured and although we believe they will both be right for Wales Yu Tamura will start at five-eighth while Yuta Imamura will be on the right wing. With Makabe out we have brought Toshizumi Kitagawa onto the bench as a reserve lock.”

Stand-in captain Takashi Kikutani said, “We did not start well against Tonga and put us under a lot of pressure from the outset and so we want to start well against Fiji. We have focussed on the set pieces and are going all out to score tries and beat Fiji on their own turf.”

Hooker Yusuke Aoki made the following comments, “Over recent tests I have come on in the second half from the bench with a specific role to play. However, in this test I am in the starting line-up and I want to put in 100% to help our side win.”

Further, Michael Leitch said, “I am very glad to be back in the Japan team. The standard at training has been very high and I believe this side has grown. It is going to be tough starting against Fiji but I want to prove myself for the up-coming Wales tour. We were well beaten by Fiji last year and I want to help instil a winning culture in this Japan side.”

Finally, left wing Hirotoki Onozawa will become the most capped player for Japan when he runs out against Fiji for his eightieth cap and he had the following to say, “We have prepared well for this test improving in all areas after the loss to Tonga. This test is really not about me playing my eightieth game as the priority is on getting the best result possible for Japan. I just want to go about things in the usual way.”

Wrap

In wet and atrocious conditions at Churchill Park in Lautoka Fiji hosted Japan in their IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013 encounter on Saturday 01 June 2013.

Despite the conditions, Fiji started off the test in typical open running style that produced an early try in the opening minute to veteran wing Sireli Bobo down the right hand side of the field. Five-eighth Setareki Koroilagilagi could not land the conversion from out wide but given the weather a 5-0 lead was very handy.

After the first score, the game settled down in the tough water-logged conditions with most of the play concentrated in the Japan half. However, Japan fullback Ayumu Goromaru had the opportunity to post first points for his side in the 10^th minute with his first penalty attempt of the afternoon but the heavy conditions worked against him and he could not secure the points.

Koroilagilagi had the chance to stretch the lead with his first shot at penalty in the 20^th minute in what would have been a regulation kick in dry conditions but as it was he failed to raise the flags.

Fiji continued to try to play expansive rugby on a field that was more and more resembling a swimming pool and even they were having difficulty controlling the ball. However, nothing was going to stop the Flying Fijians from playing their brand of rugby keeping the pressure on the gritty Japanese defence.

The Japan scrum was not functioning against the bigger, heavier Fijian pack and this handed Koroilagilagi another chance for points in the 34^th minute when Japan were penalised at a scum almost in front of their posts. Even given the position on the field he was again unable to slot the kick. The Fiji scrum outweighed their opponents 6kg per man and this gave them a solid advantage at this phase of the game.

Both sides had their chances over the closing stages of the opening half with Japan right wing Yuta Imamura making a good break down the right flank only for the ball to become unstuck. From the ensuing scrum Fiji ran the ball from five metres off their goal line deep into Japanese territory only for this movement too to breakdown in the wet and slippery conditions. Eventually the sides went to the halftime break with the only points in the half coming from the Bobo try in the first minute of play.

As the action resumed for the second half both sides carried on from where they left off in the first half. However, the game was brought to a halt early in the half for what appeared to be a serious leg injury to Japan flanker Michael Leitch who was stretchered from the field in the fifth minute.

Goromaru was then handed a relatively easy shot at penalty when Fiji were penalised for collapsing a scrum in the 6^th minute and his successful kick narrowed the difference to 5-3.

Japan were again having trouble securing their own ball with Fiji stealing a lineout and then turning over ball at a ruck and this put the home side on attack in the Japanese danger zone with flanker Api Naikatini scoring in the left-hand corner in the 10^th minute. Koroilagilagi could not add the extras but the hosts were out to a 10-3 lead.

Starved of possession and living off scraps Japan were struggling to build momentum and make an impact on the Fijian defence and as the game closed in on the final quarter one more score for the Fijians could put the results beyond the visitors. The heavy rain started to let up as the half progressed but the field was still left soggy making the handling problematic. However, this did not last long as the heavens once again opened up.

In the 67^th minute, Fiji threw in with a quick line-out deep in their own half with the home side weaving some magic down the right flank with replacement Aisea Natoga finishing off the movement with the third Fijian try with the Koroilagilagi conversion all but putting the result beyond doubt with a 17-3 lead.

With the clock winding down, Japan scored their first try of the match through replacement wing Kenki Fukuoka down the left-hand side of the field in the 40^th minute. However, Fiji had the last say with Japan based giant centre Nemani Nadolo finishing off the test match in the 43^rd minute bringing up the bonus point for Fiji in their 22-8 victory.

This was as historical test match in which veteran left wing Hirotoki Onozawa became the most-capped Japanese player when he ran out for his eightieth test match appearance, surpassing the long-standing record of 79 caps for former centre Yukio Motoki.

Stand-in captain Takashi Kikutani in an on-field interview after the game said, “Fiji played a physical game on the back of Tonga last week. We tried to take it to Fiji but could not match it on the day. We prepared well but the wet conditions were the same for both sides.”

After the match, Japan head coach Eddie Jones made the following comments, “The result is an you saw it. We were never in a position to win. We were well beaten at lineout, scrum and breakdown and there are no positives to take from this game. We have Wales next week and if we play like this we will lose by 80 points. We cannot use the atrocious weather conditions as an excuse either as that is test match rugby. The players did their best and I take full responsibility as coach.”

Kikutani further said, “We couldn’t make a game of it. Our ‘Japan Way’ of playing depends on a high tempo and especially in the second half we were unable to hit our straps. We tried to take control of the game but we were unable to enforce ourselves on Fiji.”

On becoming the most-capped player for Japan, wing Hirotoki Onozawa said. “The record doesn’t mean anything as the result is everything. When we had to up the ante in this test we were unable to do so. We wanted to take control of the game and speed things up but we couldn’t. we didn’t do what we had to do.”

Veteran lock Hitoshi Ono said, “In the atrocious conditions we came together as a team but it is very regrettable that we couldn’t come up with the win. All the boys put in but right to the end it was the Fijians had dictated the flow of the game. This was a tough lesson ahead of Wales but now we want to front up against the best side in Europe.”

Rookie try-scoring wing Kenki Fukuoka said, “My role was to come on in the second half and try to change the flow of the game but I couldn’t make it happen. I scored the try for Japan but really I just finished off what Male Sau started. We were out-muscled by the very physical Fijians turning over a lot of ball in contact and we need to remedy that for Wales.”

 

Wing Hirotoki Onozawa becomes the most-capped Japan player in his eightieth test. (Photo Kenji Demura)