'Our chances to win are a bit higher than 20 per cent,' reckon Russian underdogs
Russia plan to spoil Japan’s big day by bringing “chaos” to the opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The Brave Blossoms begin their home tournament by hosting Lyn Jones’ side in Tokyo on Friday, raising the curtain on six weeks of rugby which culminate in the final in Yokohama on November 2.
But Russia – beaten 85-15 by Italy during a warm-up programme that also saw them lose to Connacht and Jersey – hope to spring a surprise by inflicting a defeat that would do serious damage to Japan’s ambition of making it out of a pool that also features Ireland, Scotland and Samoa.
“We watched the last four or five games of Japan,” said Russia captain Vasily Artemyev. “They have a very structured, organised game. We need to bring chaos into their organisation.”
Assistant coach Alexander Voytov added: “We are very glad and proud to play against Japan in the opening game. We have studied the opponent, we have done huge work, so we are ready at maximum. The match is going to be interesting and open. Our previous encounter with Japan has proved we can play at a higher level in terms of our physicality and aggression, especially in tackles and rucks.
“Our chances to win are a bit higher than 20 per cent (as Russia head coach Lyn Jones said on Wednesday). I know the players, I see our work, and I realise that there won’t be as much pressure on us as on the Japanese. Our chances are lower but still rather good. The guys will give themselves for 110 or 120 per cent.”
(Continue reading below…)
Japan coach Jamie Joseph has made seven changes to the side beaten 41-7 by South Africa earlier this month. Joseph’s men had to overturn a 22-10 half-time deficit to win 32-27 when these sides last met in Gloucester in November and captain Michael Leitch admits the nerves have been evident in training.
“I’m so nervous I’ve been making all sorts of mistakes in training – there are so many people and so many cameras,” he said. “But I’m very proud to be part of the World Cup and to be captain of the Japan rugby team.
Leitch skippered the Japan side who pulled off the biggest upset in World Cup history when they beat South Africa 34-32 in Brighton four years ago. “In 2015 everyone expected us to lose – even the Japanese public,” he commented.
#RWC2019: #RUS?? Captain @VA_rugby gives a fantastic overview of the game of rugby in our country in this interview with @RugbyPass https://t.co/KPLPoaj8Le
— Russian Rugby (@russiarugby) September 15, 2019
“We have a lot of respect for Russia and we were very lucky to win last time we played them. I wouldn’t say we were favourites – I’d say we were even going into this Test match and if we don’t play our best we’re going to struggle. But when we beat South Africa, all eyes were on us.
“The next game against Scotland, 30 million people were watching. Even though we lost, it inspired Japan. This time we’ve got the opportunity to inspire Japan again. We have trained well, prepared well and this will be Japan’s best World Cup ever.”
Assistant coach Tony Brown admitted controlling nerves at the host nation will be important. “That is always a challenge. We played South Africa two weeks ago and that’s been a long time. The players are keen to get out there but we have an experienced group so those guys have got the team under control and they understand what they have to do.
'When the Russian anthem was played, you couldn't hear a note. That's how hostile the crowd was.' https://t.co/CVy3wjlzvR
— liam heagney (@heagneyl) February 3, 2019
“It’s been an enjoyable week and they have not been nervous at all. The players played against the All Blacks here so there is no problem with them being too nervous against Russia, it’s not an issue for us. Russia are good at kicking the ball but we need to be pressuring, turn them into counter-attacks. We are good in the air with the high ball and being able to move the ball quickly will be important.”
Japan winger Kenki Fukuoka (right hamstring) and Amanaki Mafi (right shoulder) have been left out after picking up knocks in their last match against South Africa. Kazuki Himeno takes up the latter’s No8 role while Lomano Lemeki fills in at winger. Russian full-back Denis Simplikevich, who scored tries against Ireland and Australia in the 2011 World Cup, has been left out.
Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).
WATCH: The trailer for the new RugbyPass behind the scenes documentary on Tonga’s preparations for the World Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 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
1 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 Crusades , you can keep going.
1 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!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 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 commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments