Brave Blossoms proved their ability in the most difficult circumstances with a ferocious performance against ScotlandIt was a short silence, scarcely a minute, but there was so much in it. All the swirling, clashing, contradictory emotions of a match unlike any other that’s ever been played, just hours after Typhoon Hagabis had blown through Japan, while the floodwaters were still high around the ground, the rescue work not finished, the repair work not even begun. No one was even sure exactly who, or how many, the silence was for. They were still counting the victims, and had been all day. At dawn the tally was four, then it climbed to nine. By the time they started the game it was...
Leaving aside debate about typhoons, there is a history of hosts on the right end of dubious on-field decisions at World CupsGregor Townsend may have had Russia to prepare for this week but the attention of the Scotland coach drifted towards Sunday’s (hopeful) showdown – Typhoon Hagibis notwithstanding – against the hosts Japan and the stark fact that victory may not be enough to prevent his side from making an early exit for the second time in the last three World Cups.Scotland, who must take four more points from the Pool A finale than the hosts to reach the quarter-finals, had already noted preferential treatment for Japan in the way their games are spread out with no short turnarounds, not...
Reigning champions have a huge following at this World Cup but not that many of them are from New Zealand• We are expanding our coverage of New Zealand. Please help us by supporting our independent journalismThree hours before kick‑off, the little square outside Tobitakyu station was already overflowing with New Zealand fans, spilling out down the road towards Tokyo Stadium. The ground holds 50,000 and by the time it was full you could see at least three-quarters of them were wearing black, mainly branded All Blacks swag. Jerseys, jackets, caps and flags. It didn’t matter that most of them have never even been to New Zealand. It’s been like this at every game the All Blacks have played. They had...
Coach Jamie Joseph knows Japan cannot win by physicality – they maximise their quick-footed, explosive players insteadI played with Tony Brown at the Highlanders and watching Japan’s stunning victory against Ireland I could see the extent of the influence he has as Jamie Joseph’s assistant. In fact, I see so much about this Japan side that is similar to how the Highlanders played when they won the Super Rugby title in 2015 under Joseph and Brown.Tony has an ability to give players the confidence to play what they see, the courage to act on the pictures that are good, whether that’s run pictures, kick pictures or offload pictures. It can look effortless on the pitch but so much work goes...
Vea Taumoefolau was scouted by the Japanese when he was a schoolboy in Auckland and now, at the legendary Yamanote High, is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Japan’s captainStumbling blind through suburbs of Sapporo, following a sketchy set of directions from a stranger who took pity on me, I find a 6ft x 10ft picture of Japan’s captain, Michael Leitch, scoring a try in that famous game against the Springboks in 2015. It is posted above a set of double doors set in what looks like another office block. This must be the place. And around the side of the building, in a muddy yard surrounded by a chain fence, 15 kids are running passing drills and, in...