Friday, July 19, 2013

RUGBY IN JAPAN NEWSLETTER: Vol.10, No.26

Congratulations RIJ Newsletter 10th Anniversary 2003-2013

Japan continue on their winning way with a gritty 16-13 win over Canada in the wet in Nagoya.

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

CONTENTS

  • IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013-Japan v Canada
  • IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013-Fiji v USA
  • IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013-Points Table
  • Odds and Sods-Japan’s IRB Ranking
  • Looking Ahead: Japan v Scotland November 2013

2013-pacific-nations-cup

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013

Schedule

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

35-10

USA

17:10

Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, Nagoya

Greg Garner (ENG)

 

Japan

16-13

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

Japan 16 d Canada 13

Japan 16 – Tries: Ayumu Goromaru; Conversions: Ayumu Goromaru; Penalties: Ayumu Goromaru 3 d.

Canada 13 – Try: Ciaran Hearn; Conversion: James Pritchard; Penalty: James Pritchard 2.

Date: Wednesday 19 June 2013.
Venue: Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, Nagoya.
Japan Test Number: 291.
Japan Game Number: TBC.
Kick-off: 19:10 local time (10:10 GMT/UTC).
Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand) (1st test). Assistant Referees: Richard
Kelly (New Zealand) and Taku Otsuki (Japan).
Conditions: Daily forecast for Nagoya 24-28 degrees Celsius, steady rain and
high humidity, no breeze. Surface well grassed but wet and slippery.
Attendance: 4,456.
Halftime: Canada 3 – Japan 0.

Head-to-head Encounters:

Japan and sides from Canada, including the full national side (22 times) and British Columbia (6 times) have met on 28 occasions dating back to 1930. Japan have won 14, Canada/British Columbia 10 and there have been four draws.

Moreover, there have been twenty-two official tests played between Japan and Canada with Japan winning 12, Canada 8 and there have been two draws. Caps were not awarded to the Canadian players who represented British Columbia although these games count as tests in Japanese statistics with caps awarded accordingly. In the six games played between Japan and British Columbia, both sides won two apiece while there were two draws.

The highest scoring win for Japan was 46-8 in Sendai in November 2009, while the biggest winning margin was 38 points in the same test. The longest winning sequence for Japan is three wins in a row between 1982 and 1986.

The highest scoring win for Canada was 62-18 in Toronto in July 2000, while the biggest winning margin was 44 points in the same test. The longest winning sequence for Canada is three wins in a row between 1991 and 1996 and again between 1997 and 1998.

Seventeen of the 28 games have been played in Japan, with twelve of those at Chichibu in Tokyo while nine games have been played in Canada and the other two tests were played on neutral territory. Japan and Canada have met twice at the Rugby World Cup finals, in Bordeaux in 2007 and Napier in 2011 resulting in draws on both occasions.

No.

Date

Result

(Home – Away)

Venue

Tournament

Japan

Test No.

W/D/L

(For Japan)

28

19 Jun 2013

Japan 16 – Canada 13

Mizuho, Nagoya

8th PNC

291

Won

27

27 Sep 2011

Japan 23 – Canada 23

McLean Park, Napier

7th RWC

273

Drew

26

21 Nov 2009

Japan 27 Canada 6

Chichibu, Tokyo

 

251

Won

25

15 Nov 2009

Japan 46 Canada 8

Yurtec Stadium, Sendai

 

250

Won

24

25 Sep 2007

Japan 12 Canada 12

Bordeaux

6th RWC

230

Drew

23

29 May 2005

Japan 10 Canada 15

Chichibu, Tokyo

SC final

205

Lost

22

30 May 2004

Japan 34 Canada 21

Chichibu, Tokyo

SPC final

195

Won

21

08 Jul 2001

Japan 39 Canada 7

Chichibu, Tokyo

6th PRC

174

Won

20

15 Jul 2000

Canada 62 Japan 18

Toronto

5th PRC

167

Lost

19

01 May 1999

Japan 23 Canada 21

Chichibu, Tokyo

4th PRC

153

Won

18

20 Jun 1998

Canada 34 Japan 25

Vancouver

3rd PRC

147

Lost

17

03 May 1998

Japan 22 Canada 30

Chichibu, Tokyo

3rd PRC

142

Lost

16

14 Jun 1997

Canada 42 Japan 18

Vancouver

2nd PRC

140

Lost

15

18 May 1997

Japan 32 Canada 31

Chichibu, Tokyo

2nd PRC

137

Won

14

13 Jul 1996

Canada 51 Japan 30

Vancouver

1st PRC

134

Lost

13

09 Jun 1996

Japan 18 Canada 45

Chichibu, Tokyo

1st PRC

131

Lost

12

11 May 1991

Canada 49 Japan 26

Vancouver

 

110

Lost

11

07 Jun 1986

Canada 21 Japan 26

Vancouver

 

89

Won

10

18 Apr 1982

Japan 16 Canada 6

Chichibu, Tokyo

 

72

Won

9

11 Apr 1982

Japan 24 Canada 18

Hanazono, Osaka

 

71

Won

8

12 May 1976

British Columbia 38 Japan 7

Vancouver

 

51

Lost

7

22 Mar 1970

Japan 32 British Columbia 3

Chichibu, Tokyo

 

31

Won

6

13 Apr 1963

British Columbia 6 Japan 33

Vancouver

 

22

Won

5

22 Mar 1959

Japan 11 British Columbia 11

Chichibu, Tokyo

 

19

Drew

4

15 Mar 1959

Japan 17 British Columbia 21

Hanazono, Osaka

 

18

Lost

3

11 Feb 1932

Japan 38 Canada 5

Meiji Jingu, Tokyo

 

3

Won

2

31 Jan 1932

Japan 9 Canada 8

Hanazono, Osaka

 

2

Won

1

24 Sep 1930

British Columbia 3 Japan 3

Vancouver

 

1

Drew

RWC = Rugby World Cup
PNC = IRB Pacific Nations Cup
SC = Super Cup (2005 only)
SPC = Super Powers Cup (2003 and 2004)
PRC = Pacific Rim Championship (1996 to 2001)

Japan (IRB rank 15 (70.91), at 17 June 2013)

Pos.

Name (Test Player Number)

Club

DOB

Age

Hgt/Wgt

Caps

1

Yusuke NAGAE (551)

Ricoh Black Rams

19/07/1985

27

171/107

12

2

Shota HORIE (530)

Panasonic Wild Knights

21/01/1986

27

180/104

22

3

Kensuke HATAKEYAMA (515)

Suntory Sungoliath

02/08/1985

27

178/113

45

4

Justin IVES (544)

Canon Eagles

24/05/1984

29

196/100

13

5

Shinya MAKABE (533)

Suntory Sungoliath

26/03/1987

26

192/119

16

6

Hendrik TUI (565)

Suntory Sungoliath

13/12/1987

25

189/110

13

7

Michael BROADHURST (566)

Ricoh Black Rams

30/10/1986

26

196/111

11

8

Takashi KIKUTANI (474)

Toyota Verblitz

24/02/1980

33

187/106

62

9

Fumiaki TANAKA (510)

Panasonic Wild Knights

03/01/1985

28

166/75

36

10

Harumichi TATEKAWA (557)

Kubota Spears

02/12/1989

23

181/93

18

11

Kenki FUKUOKA (TBC)

Tsukuba University

07/09/1992

20

175/83

7

12

Yu TAMURA (555)

NEC Green Rockets

09/01/1989

24

181/93

12

13

Male SAU (TBC)

Yamaha Jubilo

13/10/1987

25

183/98

8

14

Toshiaki HIROSE (c) (495)

Toshiba Brave Lupus

17/10/1981

31

173/80

14

15

Ayumu GOROMARU (467)

Yamaha Jubilo

01/03/1986

27

185/99

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

Takeshi KIZU (534)

Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers

15/07/1988

24

183/115

21

17

Masataka MIKAMI (TBC)

Toshiba Brave Lupus

04/06/1988

25

178/115

8

18

Hiroshi YAMASHITA (523)

Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers

01/01/1986

27

183/122

24

19

Hitoshi ONO (445)

Toshiba Brave Lupus

06/05/1978

35

192/105

72

20

Shoji ITO (553)

Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers

02/12/1980

32

191/101

16

21

Atsushi HIWASA (545)

Suntory Sungoliath

22/05/1987

26

166/72

26

22

Seiichi SHIMOMURA (454)

Panasonic Wild Knights

20/09/1981

31

175/85

(4)

23

Yoshikazu FUJITA (562)

Waseda University

08/09/1993

19

184/91

8

Head Coach: Eddie Jones (AUS). (18th test as head coach, for 12 wins and 6 losses)

Subs
16 subbed 2, 38 min 2H.
17 subbed 1, 29 min 2H.
18 subbed 3, 29 min 2H.
19 subbed 4, 33 min 2H.
20 subbed 5, 14 min 2H.
21 subbed 9, 26 min 2H.
22 not used.
23 subbed 11, 36 min 1H.

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.

Canada (IRB rank 13 (72.40), at 17 June 2013)

Pos.

Name

Club

DOB

Age

Hgt/Wgt

Caps

1

Hubert BUYDENS

Prairie Wolf Pack

04/01/1982

31

191/120

19

2

Ryan HAMILTON

British Columbia Bears

09/04/1988

25

182/104

16

3

Jason MARSHALL

La Rochelle (FRA)

05/02/1985

28

191/117

22

4

Jon PHELAN

The Rock

20/01/1986

27

203/111

11

5

Brett BEUKEBOOM

Plymouth Albion (ENG)

13/08/1990

22

196/113

6

6

Tyler ARDRON

Ontario Blues

16/06/1991

22

194/110

10

7

Nanyak DALA

Prairie Wolf Pack

18/06/1984

29

178/100

23

8

Aaron CARPENTER (c)

Cornish Pirates (ENG)

09/01/1983

30

183/107

52

9

Sean WHITE

British Columbia Bears

28/06/1988

24

181/85

22

10

Liam UNDERWOOD

Ontario Blues

03/06/1991

22

189/91

5

11

Taylor Paris

Ontario Blues

06/10/1992

20

183/90

9

12

Nick BLEVINS

Prairie Wolf Pack

11/11/1988

24

187/98

12

13

Ciaran HEARN

The Rock

30/12/1985

27

190/100

29

14

Connor BRAID

British Columbia Bears

31/05/1990

23

185/82

8

15

James PRITCHARD

Bedford Blues (ENG)

21/07/1979

33

175/85

50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

Ray BARKWILL

Ontario Blues

26/08/1980

32

180/103

7

17

Tom DOLEZEL

Ontario Blues

13/08/1984

28

190/120

12

18

Andrew TIEDEMANN

Ontario Blues

21/07/1988

24

183/115

20

19

Cam PIERCE

Selection Paloise (FRA)

26/10/1991

21

200/102

1

20

Aaron FLAGG

British Columbia Bears

16/06/1989

24

188/111

1

21

Eric WILSON

British Columbia Bears

27/04/1983

30

173/84

(2)

22

Michael FUAILEFAU

British Columbia Bears

20/03/1992

21

185/99

1

23

Patrick PARFREY

The Rock

01/11/1991

21

185/95

4

Head Coach: Kieran Crowley (NZL) (35 tests as head coach for 19 wins, one draw and 15 losses)

Subs
16 subbed 2, 0 min 2H.
17 subbed 1, 35 min 2H.
18 subbed 3, 26 min 2H.
19 subbed 4, 26 min 2H.
20 subbed 8, 20 min 2H.
21 not used.
22 subbed 11, 20 min 2H.
23 subbed 10, 24 min 2H.

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

Wrap

In wet conditions at the Mizuho Park Rugby Ground in Nagoya, Japan hosted Canada in an evening match on Wednesday 19 June 2013 in their clash at the IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

Canada kicked off the test well aware that a win would all but wrap up the PNC title but they were not going to have things all their own way. The visitors gained position from the kick-off and despite the rain and slippery conditions kept the ball in hand inside the Japanese half. Canada turned this pressure into points with fullback James Pritchard booting a penalty in the second minute of play to put his side 3-0 up.

Japan then went on the attack with possession from the re-start but a breakdown penalty for not releasing the ball gave the impetus back to Canada. The Canadians could not take advantage with Japan turning over the ball and kicking deep into the Canadian half. However, the return kick forced a lineout in the Japan side of halfway with a steal allowing the Canadian backs to again test the Japanese defence out wide.

In the ninth minute Canada were penalised for off-side giving fullback Ayumu Goromaru his first chance for points. However, the shot flew across the face of the posts leaving the score unchanged. Nevertheless, Canada were still under the hammer with Japan maintaining the pressure by turning down subsequent kickable penalties in favour of quick taps.

Both sides were trying to play positive, open rugby but with the combatants relatively evenly matched there was little between them over the opening 15 minutes. The conditions too had their role to play with Japan in particular grounding the ball on a number of occasions as they tried to play their usual high-paced game.

As the match reached the half hour mark, Japan were obtaining their fair share of possession and playing the game in the Canadian half. However, the arm wrestle continued with the Canadian defence repelling everything the Japanese could throw at them. Then, in the 32nd minute Japan were penalised at a ruck giving long kicker Ciaran Hearn the opportunity to stretch the lead but the kick was off the mark leaving the score at 3-0 to the visitors.

In the 35th minute, left wing Kenki Fukuoka was forced from the field with what looked like a twisted right ankle picked up in a tackle and his place was taken by Yoshikazu Fujita.

Japan were not making the most of the possession and territory that was going their way as the clock ticked down to halftime and with Canada hanging in there the lack of points to show for their efforts could come back to haunt them in the second half as the sides went to the break with Canada maintaining that 3-0 lead.

Japan five-eighth Harumichi Tatekawa kicked off the second half giving Canada first use of the ball. A lazy Japanese runner was then penalised for interfering with play by New Zealand referee Jonathan White officiating in his first international with Hearn opting for a 55 metre kick at goal. The kick was short and wide allowing Japan to clear up field.

Soon after, Canadian No8 and captain Aaron Carpenter was penalised for going off his feet at a ruck in the fifth minute giving Goromaru another chance to post the first points for the home side with an easy kick from in front. Goromaru secured the point to tie things up at 3-all.

Another breakdown penalty against Canada in the 50th minute was enough for Goromaru to land his second penalty and put Japan into the lead for the first time in the test at 6-3. However, Japan failed to secure the re-start and Canada countered from broken play with the end result that centre Hearn dotted down under the posts for the opening try of the match. Pritchard slotted the conversion to regain the lead 10-6.

In the 54th minute lock Shinya Makabe left the field with what looked like a knee injury with Shoji Ito coming on in his place.

The try seemed to lift Canada who started to up the ante in attack. But Japan found the energy to lift as well with Goromaru finishing off a period of sustained pressure to score Japan’s first try just to the left of the posts. He converted his own try to put Japan back in the lead 13-10 with 15 minutes to play. Again, the lead was short-lived with Pritchard kicking his second penalty in the 66th minute to once again level the score at 13-all.

Japan were presented the chance to retake the lead when replacement halfback Atsushi Hiwasa was caught in a high tackle in the 72nd minute and Goromaru kicked the crucial penalty to give Japan the lead 16-13.

With the remaining time creeping inside five minutes the onus was now on Canada to come from behind, but the Canucks were unable to get out of their own half to get into a scoring position. In the end, the clock beat Canada with Japan holding on for a 16-13 win with Goromaru scoring all his team’s points through a try, a conversion and three penalties.

On the field after the match, Canada captain Aaron Carpenter said, “It was really coming down tonight but Japan played better in the conditions. We needed the win to take the title but that’s rugby.”

Japan captain Toshiaki Hirose said, “The hard work is starting to pay off. I’m very proud of the players but we still have one more game to play yet.”

After the match, Japan head coach Eddie Jones said, “Four weeks ago, if we had gone down 10-6 we would have lost. But today we recovered mentally and got back in our rhythm. In the last 20 minutes there was no doubt we were going to win. It was just a matter of time before we got the points.” He also went on to say, “It’s our consistency of performance. In the past two games the scrum has been outstanding. Today the lineout was equally as good. When you have that stability in those conditions it allows us to play the type of rugby we want to play. Test match rugby is all about the set piece. We are definitely a skilful and fit team. If we keep improving our strength, set piece and breakdown skills, then we will keep getting better.”

2013-japan-canada 
Japan captain, right wing Toshiaki Hirose (JRFU, H. Nagaoka)

Fiji 35 d USA 10

Date: Wednesday 19 June 2013
Venue: Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, Nagoya
Kick-off: 17:10

Fiji used their power game to out-muscle a lacklustre USA side 35-10 in Nagoya in an early evening game on Wednesday 19 June 2013. The Flying Fijians scored two tries in each half to pick up a bonus point and keep their IRB Pacific Nations Cup title aspirations alive as the win keeps them in striking distance of front runners Canada. The American scrum was constantly back-peddling and the Fijians took full advantage of this with the first half try to halfback Nikola Matawalu and the second half five pointer to flanker Netani Talei were a direct result of the pressure they applied on the Eagles scrum. The USA have now lost all three starts in the PNC and go on to face Japan in Tokyo in their final game of the tournament.

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013 Table

Team

P

W

D

L

F

A

+/-

BP1

BP2

Pts

Canada

4

3

0

1

85

70

15

0

1

13

Fiji

3

2

0

1

75

38

37

2

1

11

Tonga

3

2

0

1

72

62

10

1

1

10

Japan

3

1

0

2

41

62

-21

0

0

4

USA

3

0

0

3

28

72

-44

0

1

1

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).

Odds & Sods

Odds & Sods brings the reader weekly news shorts, gossip and general happenings from the world of Rugby in Japan.

 

IRB ranking on 17 June 2013 - Japan were 15 on 70.91 points.

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