All Blacks Test further evidence of Japan's world class potential
Kiwi pundits have given Japan their flowers after a surprisingly tight test match in Tokyo.
The Japanese team have been on a steady upward trajectory over the past decade. The famous victory over South Africa in the 2015 World Cup made way for the signing of head coach Jamie Joseph, who since 2016 has overseen further historic wins against Ireland, Scotland, Italy and Wales.
The growth of the Brave Blossoms was illustrated perfectly following Saturday’s match with a graphic displaying the final scores of all five of the tests now played between the two nations and the steady decline in winning margin for the All Blacks; from the 129-point victory at the 1995 World Cup to this weekend’s 7 points.
Sky’s The Breakdown panel discussed how the Japanese side have reached these new heights, sighting increased quality in their local competition, tactics around physicality and coaching as the big drivers of the success.
“I watched highlights of previous games where we did pump Japan,” Ex-Black Fern Chelsea Semple said. “And they’re just completely different athletes now.
“They’ve obviously got a lot of New Zealand rugby players or overseas internationals coming to play in their competition, their training’s ramped up, they’re physical beasts out on the field some of them, and that’s a big shift they’ve made which is why they’re able to compete physically with the All Blacks now.”
Mils Muiliana agreed the growth of the local competition has had a prosperous impact on the national team.
“The game’s changed over there now,” The ex-All Black said. “It’s changed from behind the scenes.
“The companies have got really behind the Rugby Union, they’ve invested a lot of resource into that and it’s starting to rub off.
“Even the Sunwolves being a part of Super Rugby, some of the experience that those players have had. We’ve seen it already with the Highlanders, they’ve come over and they’ve gone back.
“Them working together with the companies to get foreigners to come and sort of share some of their knowledge, that’s starting to rub off and I think it’s evident of where the players have got to n0w, they understand the physical nature of it, they’re standing up, the training’s a little bit different.”
Muliaina was also full of praise for Japan’s defence.
“The Japanese (were) outstanding, their defence was huge.
“It just felt like they (The All Blacks) were waiting for things to happen, just stick to that plan, stick to that plan, Japan will falter, they’ll start to fall off tackles… and it never happened.
“Usually, they would start to fall off and then you start to win momentum. We won a little bit of momentum, but then they got it back and scored an excellent try, they were back in the game, so this Japanese side can easily go – well they’ve done it, they’ve beaten tier one teams, so they’re certainly capable of doing that.”
Taylah Johnson complimented Japan’s attack and the impact of ex-Highlanders head coach Tony Brown.
“Yeah, we also need to give credit to the coaching staff of Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown. Yes, you can have the cattle but what you’re doing with them is really important as well.
“You can see Tony Brown all over the line out moves, the set piece moves as well, they were always trying something different and they were changing pictures for that All Black team and it made it hard to defend.
“They’re not playing the simple rugby that they used to play, they’re always doing something different and it was really hard for the team to read defensively.”
Mils Muliaina then looked ahead to the Brave Blossom’s upcoming Northern Tour schedule, with the next Test coming against England, followed by France.
“They now go to England, which is a tough place to go and play, Twickenham. It’s another stepping stone in terms of their plan.
“They’re going to have that same challenge when they go to England, if not even harder because those guys there are probably a lot more physical than probably what the All Blacks are in terms of the size in that team.
“So, he (Tony Brown) knows what the challenge is but also what I love about what Browny’s saying is the plan that they’ve got in place leading into Rugby World Cup.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates live or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is hear and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
5 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
2 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
5 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
5 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
2 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to comments