RUGBY JERSEY – Japan All Blacks vs Japan XV Round 2 – ＲＵＧＢＹ　ＪＥＲＳＥＹ

(Written by Azul: July 23, 2024)

On this day (July 6, 2024), Japan’s national rugby team played its third match. The opponent this day is Maori All Blacks, the same as the previous week.

First, let’s take a look back at the results of Japan’s games so far.

	Date	Opponent	match venue	Result
1	6/22	England	Tokyo	17-52　●
2	6/29	Maori All Blacks	Tokyo	10-36　●
3	7/6	Maori All Blacks	Toyoda
4	7/13	Georgia	Sendai
5	7/21	Italy	Sapporo
6	8/25	Canada	Bancouver
7	9/7	USA	Saitama
8	9/14 or 15	(Pacific Nations Cup Semi Final)	Tokyo
9	9/21	(Pacific Nations Cup Final or 3rd Place Game)	Osaka
10	10/26	All Blacks	Tokyo
11	11/9	France	Paris
12	11/24	England	London

In the two matches played so far, the Japanese team has lost two games in a row. I hope that the Japanese team will be able to rally in the third round.

The venue for today’s match is TOYOTA Stadium in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. We drove from Hachioji City, Tokyo, to the venue, which was about 300 km away and took about 5 hours.

The number of spectators on that day was 14,613, which was a little sad for a match of the Japanese national team.

It was a pity that the crowd was smaller than expected, since Aichi Prefecture had over 30,000 spectators when Toyota Berblitz, a local team, played in Aichi Prefecture. Perhaps it was due to the fact that the Japanese national team had lost two consecutive games.

The game started at 18:00 on this day, so the sun had not yet set. However, the temperature was over 30 degrees Celsius, which was quite harsh for the players in terms of rugby match conditions.

Now, let me give you an update on both teams for the day’s matches.

First, let me introduce the Visitor Team, MAORI All Blacks.

The Maori All Blacks traveled to Aichi Prefecture after playing in Tokyo the week before, where the temperature was over 35 degrees Celsius the day before the game. Before coming to Japan, the players had practiced in their home country of New Zealand, so they had to move from their home country in midwinter to Japan in mid-summer. This difference in temperature is very harsh on the Maori All Blacks players. It may affect them in the second half of the match.

This day’s starting lineup was as follows.

Maori All Blacks
No.	Name	height	weight	age	NZ Caps
1	Pouri RAKETE-STONES	183cm	118kg	27
2	Kurt EKLUND	180cm	103kg	32
3	Marcel RENATA	187cm	121kg	30
4	Isaia WALKER-LEAWERE	197cm	122kg	27
5	Laghlan McWhannell	198cm	120kg	25
6	Tekamaka HOWDEN	196cm	118kg	26
7	Billy HARMON	187cm	104kg	29
8	Cameron SUAFOA	196m	118kg	26	1
9	Sam NOCK	178m	85kg	28
10	Rivez REIHANA	189cm	94kg	24
11	Bailyn SULLIVAN	187cm	89kg	22
12	Quinn TUPAEA	186cm	102kg	25	14
13	Rameka POIHIPI	187cm	105kg	25
14	Joshua MOORBY	188cm	96kg	25
15	Cole FORBES	180cm	91kg	24

They have not changed almost all the members from last week’s game. The combination of the players in the game should improve.

＊＊　Player to watch　＊＊

Bailyn SULLIVAN, 187 cm, 89 kg, 22 years old, plays for Pacific Hurricanes of Super Rugby. Position = WTB, CTB.

In his professional career, SULLIVAN has played a decisive role in deciding winners and losers in important matches.

In the previous week’s match, he left a strong impression on Japanese fans with his powerful tackle to deny Japan XV WTB TUIDORAKI’s almost certain try.

Japan XV will need to be careful not to let the ball get to SULLIVAN at the decisive moment.

And now, an update on the home team, JAPAN XV.

Pictured above is Eddie JONES, HC of the national team. This was the third game for the new team, and although HC JONES’ slogan of “super-fast rugby” has not been realized in total matches, glimpses of it have been shown from time to time. In this match, the team’s ability to score steadily in front of the enemy’s in-goal will be tested.

The starting lineup for the day was as follows.

No.	Name	height	weight	age	Japan Caps
1	Shogo MIURA	180cm	108kg	29	10
2	Mamoru HARADA	175cm	101kg	25	1
3	Keijiro TAMEFUSA	180cm	108kg	22	1
4	Eishin KUWANO	193cm	112kg	29
5	Naohiro KOTAKI	194m	110kg	32	11
6	Kanji SHIMOKAWA	187cm	106kg	25	5
7	Kai YAMAMOTO	177cm	98kg	24	1
8	Amanaki SAUMAKI	189cm	108kg	27	4
9	Naoto SAITO	165cm	75kg	26	20
10	Takuya YAMASAWA	176cm	84kg	29	7
11	Koga NEZUKA	173cm	82kg	25	2
12	Samisoni TUA	182cm	108kg	28	1
13	Tomoki OSADA	179cm	90kg	24	8
14	Taiti TAKAHASHI	180cm	91kg	28	1
15	Yoshitaka YAZAKI	180cm	85kg	20	1

＊＊　Player to watch　＊＊

Taichi TAKAHASHI is 28 years old, 180cm, 91kg. Position = WTB, plays for Toyota VERBLITZ, and is a graduate of Meiji University. He is a big, decisive WTB who was called up to the national team training camp early on, but was not selected for the RWC 2023 team. In the 2023-2024 season, he also played FB for his team Verblitz, and was a League One try king contender. This season will be a year of competition to see if he can win a regular position in the new Japan national team.

Let’s get the match underway.

10 minutes into the first half:

In the previous matches, JAPAN XV has been stable in set plays such as scrums and lineouts, and has often attacked in enemy territory, but after crossing the 22-meter line, they have made a series of mistakes and missed scoring opportunities.

At the start of the match, JAPAN XV was able to advance the game in the opponent’s territory after attacking into the enemy territory. After a foul by the opposing team, Japan XV’s SH Saito quickly turned the ball to the left, and the ball was passed to CTB TUA who ran up the left line, bounced off the opposing defense, and scored a try in the left corner of the enemy’s in-goal.

The conversion goal failed, and the score was 5-0.

22 minutes into the first half:

Maori All Blacks attacked deep into enemy territory. From a scrum, the Maori All Blacks attacked deep into enemy territory, but from a scrum on their own ball, JAPAN XV took the ball to the left and launched a series of attacks, including a touch kick by Japan XV’s SO Yamasawa that extended to the enemy 22-meter line, where it went off the line. From there, it was Maori All Blacks’ own ball lineout, and they started to attack, but committed an offside infringement. From this position near the enemy 22m line, JAPAN XV chose to go for the PG, and SO Yamasawa scored steadily to add to their tally. The score was 8-0.

In previous training matches of the Japan national team, there were many occasions when the opposing team scored goals consecutively from the first 20 minutes onward. In this match, however, JAPAN XV’s defense did not break down and held their opponents scoreless.

Also on this day, both teams seemed to slide on the ball due to the heat and humidity, resulting in many knock-on penalties during consecutive attacks, which prevented them from scoring. Thus, the first half ended with the score at 8-0.

With a score difference of only 8 points, both teams have a good chance to win the game, but who will be the first to score in the second half and take control of the match?

Let’s get the second half underway.

5 minutes into the second half:

Maori All Blacks attacked from their own half and steadily pushed deep into the enemy territory. Maori All Blacks tried to advance with a maul from a lineout on their own ball. Japan XV had been unbeatable in set plays up to this point, but Maori All Blacks broke down their opponents with a maul and advanced nearly 10 meters to score a try right in the middle of the enemy’s in-goal. The try was scored by hooker EKLUND.

Maori All Blacks scored early in the second half to pull the game back in their favor.

10 minutes into the second half:

Japan XV attacked deep into the enemy territory and launched a series of attacks. Maori All Blacks committed an infringement just beyond the enemy 22-meter line, and Japan XV opted to go for the PG about 20 meters away, almost in front of the enemy goal.

Japan XV’s SO Yamasawa converted the PG to make the score 11-7.

13 minutes into the second half:

The game was getting close, and either team could have won. Here, Japan XV showed a high level of movement by all players, as if this was their chance to win the game. They attacked continuously across the enemy 22-meter line, and showed continuous high intensity contact play from the left edge of the field to the right. During this period, Maori All Blacks seemed to be on the receiving end somewhat. As they approached the enemy’s in-goal, a tight group formed, and prop TAKEUCHI rose up from the middle of the group to score a try right in the middle of the enemy’s in-goal.

The conversion goal after the try was also successful, making the score 18-7.

27 minutes into the second half:

With the Japan XV try, the Maori All Blacks went into battle mode. However, Maori All Blacks were a little outclassed in the FW set pieces and when they did get going, they were outmuscled in contact play. The only thing they were winning was the maul attack, and they seized the opportunity at this time. After a Japan XV foul in enemy territory, the Maori All Blacks were awarded a penalty kick and came within inches of the enemy in-goal, mauled their way forward, and finally took the lead when substitute Hooker TOMPSON scored a try right in the middle of the enemy’s in-goal.

The conversion goal after the try was also successful, and the score was 18-14.

33 minutes into the second half:

Japan XV attacked into enemy territory and went slightly on the offensive, and the game was suspended for a foul. A video review confirmed that Maori All Blacks had committed a Crocodile Roll in a tight group. This is when a player pulls an opponent out of a tight group. It is so named because it resembles the way a crocodile rolls when it attacks its prey. The use of the Crocodile Roll was banned this season because of the high possibility of serious injury to the opponent.

The infringement caused the Maori All Blacks to temporarily eject the offending player, giving Japan XV the right to play PG. FB YAZAKI scored the PG for Japan XV to make the score 21-14.

36 minutes into the second half:

Japan XV had a lineout opportunity on the right side just in front of the enemy’s in-goal. The Japan XV team then took the ball and moved forward in a maul to score a try.