'If you're asking can they win the World Cup in 15-20 years' time, then yes'
Japanese rugby is growing at a rate of knots off the back of the momentum built after successful campaigns at the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups. In 1995 the Brave Blossoms were subjected to a humiliating 145-17 defeat to New Zealand, but just 20 years later they were celebrating one of the biggest upsets in the history of modern-day sport as they famously beat South Africa in Brighton.
Their achievements thereafter have been well documented, with a first ever World Cup quarter final appearance in 2019 the high point for Japanese rugby.
Former All Blacks full back Robbie Deans has been coaching in Japan since 2014 and has won four Top League titles with the Panasonic Wild Knights. Deans is one of rugby’s great thinkers, and he is adamant the infrastructure is in place for Japan to win the Rugby World Cup in the not-too-distant future.
“Yes, I think Japan do have the potential to win the World Cup one day especially given how much investment has gone into improving the infrastructure of Japanese rugby over the last few years,” he said.
“If you look at the last World Cup when Japan lost to South Africa in the quarter-finals it was basically an even fixture at halftime. What Japan needs to build at test level is strength in depth because to win a World Cup you’ve got to win three tough test matches on the bounce.
“Japan are at the stage where they can consistently challenge to get into the last eight but at the moment, they probably don’t have the depth to go further. But if you are asking me whether they will have that depth and quality to win the World Cup in 15-20 years’ time, then yes, I think there’s a good chance of that happening.
“You look at the transformation since I’ve been in Japan, and they are unrecognisable now to where they were six or seven years ago. In terms of DNA their biggest challenge is the middle row, but they cater for that through the eligibility laws.
“In my opinion their biggest area of weakness going forward is the front row if they want to be consistently competitive at international level. However, they have players coming through their system who I think will fix these issues moving forward, while the coaching is excellent.
“But I do think Japan need to be playing in a consistent international competition where they can hone their skills. Whether that’s the Rugby Championship or the Six Nations I’m not sure, but I suppose they’ll go wherever the door opens for them.”
Not so long ago the cash-laden fields of the then Top League was a place where big name players used go to see out their careers in relative comfort when they’d achieved everything they wanted at test level. There was a school of thought that the rugby scene in Japan was a lot softer, especially from a physical point of view, and marquee players could just coast it. But Deans insists things have changed gradually over the last few years, with the launch of the fully professional NTT Japan Rugby League One catapulting the level of domestic rugby in the country to a new level. Some of the world’s best players such as Pieter Steph du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kwagga Smith, and Samu Kerevi currently ply their trades in Japan. With a World Club Cup being mooted in the near future Deans is adamant there should be Japanese representation in such a competition, and he insists they would be extremely competitive against the best the Champions Cup, and Super Rugby could offer.
“Initially the competition was used as a twilight zone for internationals from Super Rugby, and Europe,” said Deans. “The number of experienced international coaches who have come to Japan is also a massive positive because they can transfer that IP onto the players, and homegrown Japanese coaches.
“What is great about this new league is there is also a huge emphasis on developing Japanese players, it isn’t purely about getting world stars to come over here, although that does help. We want this competition to develop the next generation of world class Japanese players.
“It was always fast, skilful, but lacked the physical element of the other top competitions around the world of premiership top for the Super Rugby. But in the last seven years, that’s changed. Every outfit has invested in their facilities, and the conditioning programme, and the body types have changed over time.
“The physicality, the defensive lines, and the intensity around the contact area has improved tenfold in Japan. This league doesn’t pale in comparison to the other top leagues around the world anymore, especially the top six teams.
“If there is to be a World Club Cup then I think the Japanese domestic scene needs to be involved, and I’m confident we’d be compeititve.”
Prior to joining Panasonic Wild Knights in 2014 Deans enjoyed a stellar coaching career in New Zealand where he won five Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders, while he also coached Australia at test level. Deans is more qualified than most to talk about the challenges facing rugby union in both Australia, and New Zealand. When Super Rugby was launched in 1996 it was superior to any other domestic rugby competition on the planet, but it has lost its way over the past 10 years with crowds lower than they used to be, especially since the South African franchises defected to the United Rugby Championship. Deans, who coached the Crusaders in Super Rugby’s halcyon days, is concerned at the way the game is going in New Zealand, and believes they need to form a new competition with Japan if they want to keep up with the Northern Hemisphere.
“I honestly think in the long run New Zealand and Australia need to align with Japan,” said Deans. “Japanese teams need to be playing in a cross-border competition, but New Zealand and Australia also need access to the Japanese market.
“It has to have meaning though, and it must be based on meritocracy. So, for arguments sakes, you’d have the top 5 in our competition qualifying for a cross border competition with the best from Super Rugby also going through into it.
“You’ve got to capture your domestic market first, so it could be a little like you see in the Northern Hemisphere where the English Premiership and Top 14 come first, and then the top six qualify for the European Cup. We need to see something similar in New Zealand, Australia, and Japan, but I am confident it will happen in time.
“I think it has to happen with the next 10 years, if not sooner, but some people need to swallow their pride to get on with it. They need to do the right thing by the game, and the future.”
Like every coach Deans keeps a close eye on the international game and is intrigued with how the balance of power is shifting to the Northern Hemisphere. While South Africa may be world champions France, Ireland, and England are ranked in the top five with the former two having recently beaten New Zealand. Deans has a hunch that a 2023 will be the year where a European nation lifts the William Webb Ellis Cup for the second time.
“Just look at how competitive the international game is,” said Deans. “There are more contenders that can win next year’s World Cup than I can ever remember which is obviously a very good thing.
“I think there’s a very good chance a Northern Hemisphere nation will win the World Cup this time. If you look at the top three nations in the world then two of them, France, and Ireland, are from the Northern Hemisphere, while England are always strong.
“France have always been consistently competitive, but have never won a World Cup, but they’ll be among the front runners in a years’ time. I do think test rugby has some problems though.
“A lot of it in between World Cup’s is meaningless. I think that needs to change.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
58 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments