Japan player ratings vs South Africa
Unfortunately for Japan, their quarter-final against South Africa proved to be a bridge too far for the World Cup hosts as they fell to a 26-3 defeat in Tokyo.
The Brave Blossoms have delighted fans the world over for the last month, but the power game of the Springboks, particularly in the second half, was too much for Jamie Joseph’s side to deal with. They had their moments, including in the scrum, but it was a domineering second half from South Africa.
RugbyPass has rated Japan’s players below in what was a valiant but disappointing end to their World Cup campaign.
- Ryohei Yamanaka – 7
Yamanaka’s positioning at the back was solid for Japan and, as the game went on, he became more involved as an attacking influencer. His footwork and soft hands helped find holes in the South African defence and link play with those around him.
- Kotaro Matsushima – 6
Not the most free-flowing attacking performance Matsushima will ever have, although his defensive and aerial work in a game as tight as this one was influential. He won a number of aerial contests, forced a knock-on in the tackle and was smart in the scramble defence, denying South Africa a try from a three-on-one in the first half.
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- Timothy Lafaele – 5.5
Lafaele had a couple of flashes of his slick handling and incisive carry-and-passing ability, though they were isolated to the first quarter of the match. He was kept quiet by the stranglehold the South African defence put on the 13 channel and made a couple of poor reads in defence.
- Ryoto Nakamura – 5.5
The inside centre interchanged with Yu Tamura on a couple of occasions to good effect and his soft hands created chances for the Blossoms. He drifted out of the game the longer it went on, though.
- Kenki Fukuoka – 6
Fukuoka’s speed and footwork were electric in Tokyo, albeit in the limited opportunities he got to showcase it. If Japan could have manufactured more space for Fukuoka in the first half, it could have been a different story.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1185956451208052736
- Yu Tamura – 4.5
It was a nightmare start for Tamura who was lucky his under-kicked cross-field kick wasn’t returned for a try. He also threw a forward pass and missed the tackle on Makazole Mapimpi for South Africa’s first try, all within the first five minutes. He had some effective moments with the ball in hand, although he was also guilty of overplaying at times.
- Yutaka Nagare – 6
Nagare pushed the tempo well and was clearly in charge of his pack throughout. He helped facilitate the incisive play of the Japanese back line with that tempo, although he didn’t take any of the increasing space himself.
- Keita Inagaki – 7
The loosehead contributed to an effective scrum against the Boks, including the quick hook on attacking ball. In the loose he showcased his good handling skills, regulary shifting the point of contact.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1185954686349840385
- Shota Horie – 5
Not the best game Horie will ever have at the set-piece, missing his jumpers on four occasions, though his hooking at the scrum was solid. He couldn’t quite get his game in the loose going, as he was generally met by powerful Springbok tackles as soon as he received the ball.
- Jiwon Koo – 7
After taking a bit of a shunting in the first scrum of the game, Koo went to work on the South African unit, including working a penalty of Steven Kitshoff. He was a willing carrier, too, as he helped Japan stay competitive in the power stakes close to the ruck.
- Luke Thompson – 6
The lock contributed at the lineout and in the defensive line, without it being one of his more influential performances.
https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1185893273803591680
- James Moore – 6
Moore was the primary jumper at defensive lineouts for Japan and given the success the Springboks had with the driving maul, the lock’s ability to disrupt on two or three throws was important for Japan.
- Michael Leitch – 7.5
A typically industrious and all-action performance from Japan’s talismanic back rower. He was the primary carrying and lineout option for the Blossoms, as well as contributing heavily at the breakdown and offloading to keep phases alive and stretch the South African defence.
- Lappies Labuschagne – 7
With Leitch and Kazuki Himeno given licence to roam, Labuschagne helped shore up Japan offensively and defensively in the tighter confines. He wasn’t able to impact in attack too strongly, though the physicality of his tackling, including a rip in contact, were vital for Japan.
- Kazuki Himeno – 6.5
Himeno was one of the few Japanese forwards to engage South Africa in the power game. He had moments of success and failure in that, although it was a solid performance in general, with his handling skills and work rate suiting Japan’s high-tempo game.
Join @jimhamilton4 as he gives his alternative commentary of the #JPNvRSA match ????
Link – https://t.co/RBuRSUjLvC#RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/xNhdfzV0k1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 20, 2019
Replacements
- Atsushi Sakate – N/A
Didn’t have long enough on the field to impact the game, unfortunately.
- Isileli Nakajima – 5
Was given a tough time at the scrum by Vincent Koch and coughed up a needless infringement away from it, too.
- Asaeli Ai Valu – 6.5
Added a potent carrying threat, although it was too little too late for Japan.
- Wimpie van der Walt – 6
Looked physical after coming on, although wasn’t able to influence the game too significantly in a similar fashion to the starting locks.
- Amanaki Mafi – 5.5
The loose forward was physical in defence, although didn’t add the attacking impetus that Joseph would have hoped for.
- Fumiaki Tanaka – N/A
Like Sakate, Tanaka came on too late to have a real impact on the game, with South Africa already cemented as comfortable winners.
- Rikiya Matsuda – 6
Matsuda did well, despite South Africa being in control of the game by the time he arrived. He didn’t make the mistakes of Tamura by overplaying.
- Lomano Lemeki – 5.5
Struggled to add anything after replacing Yamanaka, although the momentum had shifted in South Africa’s favour at that point.
WATCH: Highlights as Japan give second best to South Africa at the World Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
8 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
8 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
8 Go to comments