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'Throw Japan in The Rugby Championship': Japan impress again despite loss
Japan captured the hearts of rugby fans all around the world when they recorded their history making win over South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
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Since, they’ve continued to be one of the most exciting rugby nations in the world, who seem to be going from strength-to-strength every year.
Four years on from that historic win, the Brave Blossoms backed it up in front of their home crowd when they beat Ireland to secure a maiden appearance in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
And then, as recently as Saturday afternoon, Japan once again showed that they are team which has the potential to be competitive against the best teams in the world.
The Wallabies came into this test as the favourites, on the back of four straight wins. Impressively, the men in gold recorded two wins over the reigning World Champions South Africa, as well as two against Argentina.
While the Wallabies had 59% of possession throughout the match, the Japanese defence held strong and proved tough to break.
Australia had a 14-point lead with just under half-an-hour to play, but the hosts didn’t give up, scoring 10 straight points to trail by four with just over five minutes to play.
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While the visitors would go on to score again through debutant Connal McInerney, which sealed the win, the competitiveness of the Brave Blossoms team is clear for all to see.
“Their ability to recycle ball, threaten you from all areas on the park has been really good,” Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said after the 32-23 win in Oita.
REACTION: Running the Wallabies so close in Oita left the Japanese fired up in the aftermath #BraveBlossoms #JAPvAUS #TRC #Wallabies https://t.co/VrtVKUeAz0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 23, 2021
“Sometimes it felt today that we were able to put a lot of pressure on the Japanese side and they were able to find solutions and get out of that and flip it straight back onto us.
“They’ve got a pretty complete game. They’re good at the breakdown, got good attacking players and their set-piece is getting better…They’re a team that’s improving fast.”
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Earlier this year, the Brave Blossoms became the latest of a few nations to have played against the British and Irish Lions. After going down by 18-points at Murrayfield, they then faced Ireland a week later.
Considering their status in the game as a tier one nation, and the competitiveness against a in-form Wallabies side, it had many asking whether they’re worthy of a spot in The Rugby Championship.
The previously titled Tri Nations expanded in 2012 to include Argentina, who since claimed wins over all three major South Hemisphere sides, including the All Blacks last year.
As you can see below, some fans have made it clear on Twitter that they want to see more Test matches involving Japan in the future.
Throw Japan in the Rugby Championship as soon as possible. They have proven themselves at the highest level and deserve to have regular test matches against the best teams in the world. #JPNvAUS
— Jordan Patu (@Jordan_Patu) October 23, 2021
It has to be time to bring Japan Rugby into The Rugby Championship. Why is that not happening? #JPNvAUS
— Peace_in_our_time (@Peaceinyourtime) October 23, 2021
Please make this a regular feature! Look to have a home/away game each year if their participation in The Rugby Championship isn’t possible
— Nik Sharpe (@NikSharpe) October 23, 2021
Both Hooper and coach Dave Rennie were asked about whether the Brave Blossoms should join The Rugby Championship.
While Hooper said that he wasn’t going to answer as it was “a bit above the decisions that I need to make”, he did provide a unique perspective on what it’s like to face them, and how it compares to the All Blacks, Springboks and Los Pumas.
“In terms of that game itself, look it was more up tempo than some of The Rugby Championship there. Definitely not the New Zealand games.
“Japan’s intent to throw quick lineouts, get the ball moving around, keep the ball in the field of play with their kicks and then just generally run it back.
“Came close at the end there but it certainly felt like we’re all over them for most of the game and let them in with some poor discipline and some poor skill error.”
Rennie also commented on the Brave Blossom’s standing in the sport, and how “they’re only going to get better.”
“They’re a good side. They’ve got outstanding staff who’ve developed genuine depth,” Rennie said after the win in Oita.
“They’re only going to get better I think so, yeah certainly worthy of where they’re sitting in the world. And certainly great for them to be playing a lot of tier one nations now maybe compared to what they were doing two or three years ago.”
Both sides are now preparing for Test matches in Europe, with the Wallabies set to face Scotland, England and Wales to finish their international season. The men in gold have the potential to extend their winning streak to eight matches if they win all three.
Meanwhile the Brave Blossoms are set to take on Ireland at the Aviva Stadium early next month, before facing Portugal and then Scotland at Murrayfield. Japan beat both Ireland and Scotland at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which saw them top A.
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful 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 …
30 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!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 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.
30 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 comments