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Analysis: The super set that broke down Ireland and delivered Japan's 'Shizuoka Sensation'

By Ben Smith
How Japan broke down Ireland to deliver the 'Shizuoka Sensation'. (Photos/Gettys Images)

After kicking four penalties to stay within touching distance of the favoured Ireland team, Japan delivered a high-energy set of phases to cross in the corner through substitute Kenki Fukuoka. It would give them a lead that they would not relinquish, as the worn-out Ireland side could not muster a counter blow in the sticky heat in Shizuoka.

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In the Xth minute, Ireland botch an exit play, handing the Japanese a scrum in ideal attacking position from which to fire their shot. Jamie Joseph makes a crucial substitution before this scrum, injecting reserve halfback Fumi Tanaka into the game to replace Yutaka Nagare. It would prove to be a masterstroke move.

The amount of energy Japan bring to this set is noticeable, with the fresh legs of Tanaka bringing an increased tempo for the side to feed off. Having just marched Ireland back into their 22, Japan is confidently rolling.

They fire two shots straight down the heart of the Irish midfield on back-to-back phases, using two powerful ball carriers to attack the same spot in the Irish wall.

On the first phase, Tanaka throws a generously flat ball to Ryoto Nakamura (12), leading the centre on a Kamikaze-style job of pounding the Irish midfield.

Tanaka has zero pressure from Conor Murray at the base of the scrum, allowing the nifty halfback to pick and go from the base.

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It isn’t something that Murray usually does but the extra zip of Tanaka allows Japan to beat Ireland to the punch. Tanaka gets a few crucial steps in allowing the ball to be fired a bit wider, so when Nakamura catches it he is already bouncing to the outside of Chris Farrell (12).

The super flat pass leads Nakamura onto the ball at pace and succeeds in doing two things: taking both midfielders into contact and powering way past the gain line.

This strong first-up puncture is exactly what Japan need. The Irish forwards folding round have even further to go and Ireland has two key defenders on the ground.

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The first Irish defenders around the corner are Josh van der Flier (7) and Conor Murray (9), but there is a disconnect visible between van der Flier and the next man, leaving the ruck channels somewhat exposed.

The quick recycle has almost been completed as Tanaka reaches for the ball to switch play back before Ireland can set the ruck defence.

Japan run a double bluff, with Tanaka first switching play sniping from the ruck before playing Lomano Lemeki back inside for another power carry right down the throat where the last carry was.

Murray (9) has to fold back over to plug the gap and Ireland doesn’t have any time to get off the line.

Lemeki (11) powers into Murray and Stander in another two-man tackle and drives all the way down to within a metre off Ireland’s line.

The planned strike move didn’t completely break the defensive line but succeeded in bending it backward, with Ireland now camped on their own goal line.

Ireland hasn’t fully fanned out effectively following the original scrum so Tanaka brings play left again to test the edge.

He uses workhorse flanker Kazuki Himeno (6) for a carry on the fourth phase.

It takes some stopping to bring down Himeno, with Earls (14) chopping low and Carty (10) going high. Van der flier (7) competes for the ball with his side under immense pressure and requiring some slow ball to reset.

Japan gets another quick recycle and attempts a pick and go with the line imminent. Ireland scramble, but it takes three defenders to stop one man.

Japan have slow ball this time, the recycle takes about 3.5 seconds, but it doesn’t matter as Ireland are struggling to number off under the fatigue.

Ireland could match-up man-for-man with each Japanese player here by playing jockey defence but this is extremely difficult to do on your own line. They are clearly exhausted as well and Japan are able to skin them by the slimmest of margins.

Instead of jockeying-out, they get caught coming forward but without enough juice to shut down the play, leaving Fukuoka open on the flank.

Ryoto Nakamura (12) comes into first receiver to give a crisp cutout pass. The high-angle shot shows Murray and Kearney showing interest in the same man, Matsushima (14).

As Timothy Lafaele (13) catches the ball, only Rob Kearney (15) can do anything at this point.

If Japan had done their homework, which Joseph says they had, they would know that in this situation Kearney would only do one thing.

Rob Kearney always goes hard at the ball carrier in an attempt to shut down the play, often leaving his assignment open even when his winger is already covering their man.

Instead of taking the last man, Kearney tries to prevent the ball from getting there, and this gamble doesn’t always come off.

Against Japan, already facing an overlap, Kearney was always going to try and pressure Lafaele’s pass instead of perhaps sliding out one more to make a last-ditch tackle.

And this is just one of those unique situations where Japan had the perfect man in position, with Lafaele a gifted ball-handler with silky skills. Had he dummied, the ‘Shizuoka Sensation’ may never have happened.

But instead, he uses his soft hands quickly and Fukuoka goes in untouched.

Is Kearney solely to blame for this try? Absolutely not. His blitz style edge defence may, in fact, be licensed by the coaching staff and there were plenty of other errors in the lead-up to this movement to gift Japan this field position.

This was just about the only try-scoring opportunity the Japanese had in the entire game (outside of an early kick chase by Matsushima), and they executed perfectly to take their chance just like in Brighton four years ago after the buzzer against South Africa.

Joe Schmidt’s press conference following the loss to Japan:

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j
john 5 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

13 Go to comments
A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

13 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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