RWC 2019 – The Competitors – Japan

The impression left by Japan in beating South Africa in RWC 2015 remains elite. It would be no exaggeration to consider it as being among the greatest upset in sports, certainly in a competition such as a World Cup. Four years on Japan has a similar pool to contend with but this time home advantage and a far friendlier schedule.

Japan was extremely unfortunate to miss out on a debut appearance in the RWC Quarter Finals in 2015. The schedule cost Japan significantly. Facing South Africa and Scotland with just three days between enabled a full-strength Scottish side to cruise to a second half victory. Japan’s wins over South Africa, Samoa, and the USA were not enough for a place in the Quarter Finals, marking a first ever time in which three competitors from a pool each won three matches.

In RWCs 1987-2011 Japan was a lower Tier 2 side, but this is certainly far from being the case in 2019. The Japanese today are capable to major results and deserve their spot of 11th in the World Rankings.

 

WORLD CUP  HISTORY

RWC	FINAL PLACING	RESULTS
1987	Group Stage	Lost vs Australia, England, USA
1991	Group Stage	Won vs Zimbabwe Lost vs Ireland, Scotland
1995	Group Stage	Lost vs Ireland, New Zealand, Wales
1999	Group Stage	Lost vs Argentina, Samoa, Wales
2003	Group Stage	Lost vs Fiji, France, Scotland, USA
2007	Group Stage	Draw vs Canada Lost vs Australia, Fiji, Wales
2011	Group Stage	Draw vs Canada Lost vs France, New Zealand, Tonga
2015	Group Stage	Won vs Samoa, South Africa, USA Lost vs Scotland

Overall record: Played 28, Won 4, Drawn 2, Lost 22

 

RWC 2019 SCHEDULE

RWC 2015 tournament organizers handed Japan five days to play against South Africa and Scotland. The difficult assignment also involved travel, leaving the then Eddie Jones coached side with an unsporting chance.

As the hosts of RWC 2019 Japan faces no such challenges. On the contrary in being the host nation the Japanese have a privileged match schedule which exclusively sees Japan playing on weekends. First up will be the tournament opener in which Japan face Russia in Tokyo.

For game two Japan travel to Shizuoka to face Ireland. It is to be the most demanding fixture and has been appropriately scheduled with this in mind. Based on the positioning of the match and the overall schedule Japan will be able to choose to field their first XV against all opposition, something denied of them in prior editions under the 4 pools of 5 teams RWC model.

A second short trip will see Japan traveling from Shizuoka to Toyota for game three. They will be up against Samoa, a team which they have overtaken in recent years. It is again well positioned from the hosts’ perspective with it being a full week after facing Ireland and eight days before the fourth pool match against Scotland. The battle in Yokohama has carefully been positioned on the final day of the pool stage, with it likely to determine who joins favorites Ireland in reaching the Quarter Finals.

DATE	OPPONENT	VENUE
Fri, Sept 20	Russia	Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo
Sat, Sept 28	Ireland	ECOPA Stadium, Shizuoka
Sat, Oct 5	Samoa	Toyota Stadium, Toyota
Sun, Oct 13	Scotland	International Stadium, Yokohama

 

PREDICTED 31 PLAYERS

Forwards: Keita Inagaki (Sunwolves), Ji-Won Koo (Sunwolves), Asaeli Valu (Sunwolves), Koki Yamamoto (Sunwolves), Hiroshi Yamashita (Sunwolves), Shota Horie (Sunwolves), Yusuke Niwai (Sunwolves), Atsushi Sakate (Sunwolves), Grant Hattingh (Sunwolves), Uwe Helu (Sunwolves), Shinya Makabe (Sunwolves), Wimpie van der Walt (Sunwolves), Kazuki Himeno (Sunwolves), Michael Leitch (Sunwolves), Amanaki Mafi (Sunwolves), Masakatsu Nishikawa (Sunwolves), Shunsuke Nunomaki (Sunwolves), Lappies Labuschagne (Sunwolves)

Backs: Yutaka Nagare (Sunwolves), Kaito Shigeno (Sunwolves), Fumiaki Tanaka (Sunwolves), Rikiya Matsuda (Sunwolves), Yu Tamura (Sunwolves), Timothy Lafaele (Sunwolves), Ryoto Nakamura (Sunwolves), Will Tupou (Sunwolves), Kenki Fukuoka (Sunwolves), Amanaki Loto’ahea (Ricoh Black Rams), Akihito Yamada (Panasonic Wild Knights), Ryuji Noguchi (Sunwolves), Ryohei Yamanaka (Sunwolves)

 

PROJECTED MATCH-DAY LINE-UP

1 Keita Inagaki, 2 Shota Horie, 3 Ji-Won Koo, 4 Wimpie van der Walt, 5 Grant Hattingh, 6 Michael Leitch (capt.), 7 Kazuki Himeno, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 10 Yu Tamura, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 14 Akihito Yamada, 15 Ryuji Noguchi

Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Koki Yamamoto, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Uwe Helu, 20 Shunsuke Nunomaki, 21 Yutaka Nagare, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Ryohei Yamanaka

 

Key Back: Ryoto Nakamura
Key Forward: Michael Leitch
Talisman: Yu Tamura

 

RWC 2019 PREVIEW

Based on finishing third in their group in RWC 2019 Japan would have qualified automatically for RWC 2019. This would mark uncharted waters for Japan but with them being this year’s tournament hosts they were assured of an automatic spot.

In the years between RWC 2015 and 2019 Japan has a new look with former New Zealand and Japan flanker Jamie Joseph replacing Eddie Jones as Head Coach. He took up the position in 2016 following care taker coaching roles from Ryuji Nakatake and Mark Hammett.

Under Joseph Japan were 33-30 away losers against Wales in November 2016. On the same tour Japan defeated Georgia in Tbilisi. In 2017 notable wins came against Romania, and Tonga as did a 23-23 draw against France in Paris. Another scalp came in 2018 with Japan defeating Italy and also claiming wins against Georgia, and Russia.

Japan has the means of defeating Scotland in RWC 2019 however Japan’s projected results are wins against Samoa, and Russia but losses against Ireland and Scotland. These outcomes would see a third place pool finish, the most likely result for the Japanese at RWC 2019.

Week 1 – Italy
Week 2 – Fiji
Week 3 – Japan
Week 4 – England