Japan must learn to live with the hype

Sport360 staff 07:44 23/09/2015
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  • Japan have an outstanding chance of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals.

    It’s a telling indication of Japan’s new-found status as everyone’s second-favourite team that within 24 hours of the Brave Blossoms seismic defeat of South Africa, the Rugby World Cup’s official merchandise store on London’s Oxford Street was forced to close due to overwhelming demand for the team shirt.

    Manufacturers Canterbury cannot keep up with demand – the shirt is totally sold out in Ireland – to the extent neutrals heading to Kingsholm today and leaning towards Japan will be wearing Gloucester’s own cherry and white shirt in support.

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    It’s pretty well-established now  Sunday’s victory was the greatest upset in the Rugby World Cup, if not any World Cup.

    It transcended the sport itself as coverage of the game went beyond sports pages. It’s not hyperbolic to suggest it’s been the finest sporting moment of 2015 so far. But a different test now awaits, and it’s not just in the form of a Scottish side who have spent the past six days kicking their heels on the training ground.

    For Japan cannot allow themselves to get caught up in the moment and let what was a miraculous and historic result, that will be remembered for decades, define this tournament for them.

    Their fast hands and attacking intent caught the eye but the percentages must be played, and probably improved, to overcome an emerging Scottish side

    Given the nature of Pool B, they now have an outstanding chance of reaching the quarter-finals. Never mind the so-called Pool of Death in group A – only three teams are really progressing from there – in Japan’s group it’s any one of five still; the USA showed enough in their loss to Samoa that they can trouble each of their rivals.

    Despite their own loss, South Africa could even match Japan’s results from hereon in and providing they score bonus point victories, and the Asian side don’t, pip them to the post at the top of the pool.

    This will undoubtedly have been drummed into the players’ heads over the past four day by Eddie Jones, a canny coach who’s been around the block long enough not to bask too long in the afterglow of a result. Because a heavy defeat against the Scots, a scenario that is more than probable, would undo a lot of the hard work done so far.

    The slight cliche of Japan solely being a free-flowing, vibrant team that likes to spin the ball out to the backs, was laid to rest on Saturday as they out-scrummaged one of the heaviest and most fearsome packs in the world. Japan’s set piece, both at the scrum and lineout, was impressive throughout and helped lay the bedrock for their success.

    Their fast hands and attacking intent, particularly in the final 15 minutes, caught the eye but the percentages must be played, and probably improved, to overcome an emerging Scottish side.

    Indeed, 26 missed tackles is not a statistic Jones will want repeated against Scotland’s clever backline.

    Japan’s secret is also out and any chance of them being underestimated has been firmly removed. Had the Scots played them first up, they too may well have been defeated.

    Scheduling also goes against the Japanese as no rugby team should really be expected to play two games inside five days and intensity levels are bound to drop.

    There is now a considerable degree of pressure and anticipation. An expectancy they may not have ever felt outside their home country. A match that may well have been ignored by the average viewer is a primetime event. And their hoards of new followers will be hoping fortune favours the Brave Blossoms once again.

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