'You can't help but be enthralled at the speed of their game'
England fly-half George Ford believes Japan can advance deeper into the World Cup if they maintain the stunning form shown in progressing to the knockout phase.
The hosts have toppled heavyweights Ireland and Scotland en route to setting up an historical first appearance in the quarter-finals where they face South Africa at Tokyo Stadium on Sunday.
A gripping 28-21 victory over the Scots has lifted them to seventh in the global rankings – the highest position they have ever held – and Ford is impressed by how they make the most of their strengths.
“It’s knock-out games now, so it’s about whoever plays best on the day, and Japan have a bit of momentum behind them,” Ford said.
“I’m sure the country is getting behind them as well, but we will see how they get on. I’m not surprised they have gone well – they have some belief.
“From what I believe, they have had a fair bit of time together to prepare for this World Cup.
“They play to their strengths and that is fast, moving the ball into space. But they can also carry, are good at the breakdown, slowing it down and kicking at the right time.
“Teams try to maximise their strengths – whatever they believe they are – and that makes them no different to us.
“When we played them at Twickenham in November they were pretty good, especially the first 40 minutes.”
Japan survived a late fightback by Scotland to secure their place among the World Cup elite in a match that was under threat of being cancelled due to Super Typhoon Hagibis.
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“I thought it was a brilliant game, it lived up to the hype. I was really impressed with how controlled and accurate they were,” Ford said.
“You could see how the momentum shifted between the teams throughout the game, with each team getting on top.”
Japan coach Jamie Joseph – who succeeded Eddie Jones – and his assistant Tony Brown spent time with England during this year’s Six Nations.
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“It was great to have them in, watching what we do then having discussions with them. They have a different way of looking at things and a different approach,” England scrum coach Neal Hatley said.
“It’s about what suits your team and players. We do things differently. It’s like getting to 10 – you can do five plus five or seven plus three. They go seven plus three, we might go differently.
“You can’t help but be enthralled at the speed of their game, but it also suits the players they’ve got.
“I also sometimes like five five-metre scrums in a row and line-outs. The beauty of our game is that it involves all sorts.”
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England travel to Oita on Monday where they will step up preparations for their quarter-final against Australia, a team they have beaten six times in a row.
Number eight Billy Vunipola (ankle) and wing Jack Nowell (hamstring) remain doubts for the last eight showdown after sustaining injuries against Argentina nine days ago.
“Our record against Australia is irrelevant. Completely irrelevant. What has gone on in the past doesn’t matter,” Ford said.
“It is all about this week, all about the game on Saturday, we will make sure we are ready.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to comments