Preview: Japan v USA
Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:46
In the first Test of a two-Test series Japan play the USA Eagles in Nagoya, Japan's fourth largest city, situated on Honshu Island.
The second Test will be in Tokyo on Saturday week.
History suggests that the USA will win. Japan and the USA have played sixteen times dating back to the first encounter in Tokyo in 1985. The USA has won 12 tests to Japan’s three with one test a draw. The last time Japan and the USA met was at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia with the Eagles winning 39-26.
Recent history confirms it. Japan have lost in recent times to Samoa, Fiji, Australia A and the Maori with only a win over Tonga to relieve the disappointment. The USA are fresh from a resounding victory over Uruguay - 43-9 last weekend.
There are foreign influences in both sides but Michael Hercus, the Eagles' flyhalf, may have the best inside knowledge. He is now playing his club rugby in Japan with Japan IBM Big Blue. In 2003 he played against Japan for the USA in the World Cup and the Eagles won 39-26.
With first-hand experience of Japanese rugby he is able to say: "The Japanese have a really good set-up and are very different from 2003.
"Five years ago they were not lacking bulk, but rugby fitness. The players are more professional now and we are certainly not underestimating them."
Where Japan brings players in, the USA sends them out and picks from those who play outside of the USA whose domestic rugby is increasingly on a sound footing any way. A minority of Eagles play in the USA - Pat Quinn, Alec Parker, Shawn Pittman, Valenese Malifa and Joe Welch. Todd Clever has been playing in the USA and has been named player for the year but he has signed to play for Johannesburg-based Lions.
The only player Japan have who is based outside of Japan is New Zealander James Arlidge who is playing for the Dragoons in Wales but he will not be playing. His wife is expecting a baby and he has stayed in Wales. His place has been taken by Shaun Webb of Christchurch in New Zealand.
The other New Zealanders are Ryan Nicholas, Luke Thompson and Bryce Robins. Michael Leitch, 20 years of age, was born in New Zealand but went to Japan at the age of 15 on a rugby exchange and has stayed. This year he captained Japan Under-20. He is a phys.ed student at Tokai University. He is one of the new caps.
John Kirwan had trials. Of the 44 who played, 17 were uncapped. Of this team, seven are uncapped - fullback Kaoru Matsushita, Koji Tomioka, Masakazu Irie, Leitch and props Kensuke Hatakeyama, Hisateru Hirashima and Naoki Kawamata.
Kirwan said: "We have chosen a number of young players that we hope will develop into world class players of the future."
The Eagles have the Zimbabwean Yank Takudzwa Ngwenya who was one of the exciting players at the World Cup but has not really shown his class with erratic Biarritz.
Of the Brave Blossoms who were at the World Cup, the following will be in action this weekend - Kosuke Endo, Koji Taira, Hajime Kiso, Toshizumi Kitagawa, Luke Thompson and Bryce Robins.
Of the Eagles, the following were at the World Cup - Chris Wyles, Takudzwa Ngwenya, Paul Emerick, Mike Hercus, Mike Petri, Todd Clever, Inaki Basauri, Matekitonga Moeakiola, Mike MacDonald, Alec Parker, Chad Erskine and Valenese Malifa.
The Japanese can handle well and at speed while the USA are more likely to rely on physical strength and the speed of Takudzwa Ngwenya and Todd Clever, the two who constructed that brilliant try against the Springboks.
Results down the Years
2003: USA won 39-26 in Gosford in Australia (Rugby World Cup)
2003: USA won 69-27 in San Francisco
2000: USA won 36- 21 in Hanazono in Osaka
1999: Japan won 47-31 in Honolulu
1998: Japan won 25-21 in San Francisco
1998: USA won 38-27 in Chichibu in Tokyo
1997: USA won 51-29 in San
Francisco
1997: USA won 20-12 in Hanazono in Osaka
1996: USA won 74-5 in San Francisco
1996: Japan won 24-18 in Chichibu in Tokyo
1991: USA won 27-15 in Chicago
1991: USA won 20-9 in Minneapolis
1990: USA won 25-15 in Chichibu in Tokyo
1987: USA won 21-18 in Brisbane in Australia (Rugby World Cup)
1986: Draw 9-9 in Los Angeles
1985: USA won 16-15 in Chichibu in Tokyo
Prediction: The Eagles by five or more.
Teams:
Japan: 15 Kaoru Matsushita, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Koji Tomioka, 10 Shaun Webb, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani, 7 Takashi Kikutani (captain), 6 Hajime Kiso, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Yusuke Aoki, 1 Hisateru Hirashima.
Replacements: 16 Naonori Mizuyama, 17 Naoki Kawamata, 18 Tomoaki Taniguchi, 19 Michael Leitch, 20 Tomoki Yoshida, 21 Masakazu Irie, 22 Bryce
Robins.
USA: 15 Chris Wyles, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Junior Sifa, 11 Gavin DeBartolo, 10 Mike Hercus, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Pat Quinn, 7 Todd Clever (captain), 6 Inaki Basauri, 5 John VanderGiessen, 4 Hayden Smith, 3 Matekitonga Moeakiola, 2 Mark Crick, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements: 16 Joe Welch, 17 Shawn Pittman, 18 Alec Parker, 19 JJ Gagiano, 20 Chad Erskine, 21 Valenese Malifa, 22 Thretton Palamo.
Date: Sunday, 16 November 2008
Kick-off: 15.00 (06.00 GMT)
Venue: Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, Nagoya
Expected weather conditions: 50% chance of rain with a high of 18°C dropping to 13°C and a light wind
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
