Joseph makes bold claim after confirming his Japan World Cup squad
Head coach Jamie Joseph has insisted that Japan are heading to France to win the Rugby World Cup. His bold statement came after he confirmed 30 of the 33-strong squad travelling with him to Europe at the end of this week.
The 2019 quarter-finalists, who are set to depart Tokyo on August 19 ahead of their warm-up clash with Italy in Treviso seven days later, have named 15 forwards and 15 backs, with the remaining three positions to be filled ahead of the World Rugby squad announcement deadline.
Injury concerns regarding the likes of Warner Dearns, Uwe Helu and Amato Fakatava, along with the suspension of the red-carded Pieter Labuschagne, have meant a delay in the confirmation of the entire squad.
However, of the 30 names that were confirmed on Tuesday, 13 players featured in the 2019 campaign. None are more experienced than hooker Shota Horie and back-rower Michael Leitch, who are poised to feature at their fourth finals have first appeared at New Zealand 2011.
At the other end of the scale, Joseph has named two uncapped players, prop Sione Halasili and scrum-half Kenta Fukuda, while another nine have less than 10 caps. Their selection means that the average experience across the 30 players named is just 21 Test caps each.
Can they build on their superb 2019 run? 🇯🇵
Meet the @JRFURugby squad for #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/VtwpIqQEXb
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) August 15, 2023
After the Summer Nations Series match in Italy, Japan will head to base camp in Toulouse to continue preparations for their pool matches against Chile, England, Samoa and Argentina, a campaign that begins on September 10 against the Chileans at Stadium de Toulouse.
Joseph said: “We are going into the World Cup to win it. As a tournament, if you can get to the quarter-finals, anything can happen, so our first step is to make the top eight and take things from there.
“We understand that is a massive challenge, but the team takes a lot of confidence from what we achieved in 2019, surprising the world by the way we played and how we went through our pool unbeaten. It’s our challenge to do that again in 2023.
“Recently we have had some tough results, with a couple of red cards and some serious injuries to some senior players that have really affected the team.
“But at the same time, it’s given us great preparation for the World Cup. Red and yellow cards will become an increasing feature of the modern game and every week, in every Test match, players have to be able to adjust to these moments.
“In selecting the squad, we have worked around the fact that we can’t replace or take more than 33 players, so we need to make sure all bases are covered. What that looks like in terms of specialist positions, we are taking nine front rowers, and three specialist nines and tens.
“So just under half the squad cover only five positions. In terms of the final selection, it reduces our options, so we have selected players who can focus on one position, but also have the ability to play in another one or two positions as well.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 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…
1 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 commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments