RWC: Canada - Japan (27-09-2011, 17:00)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

McLean Park, Napier (27-09-2011, 17:00)

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (RSA)
Touch Judge: Bryce Lawrence (NZL)
Touch Judge: Vinny Munro (NZL)
TV match official: Matt Goddard (AUS)
​

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] Canada [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] Japan [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] James Pritchard [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] Shaun Webb [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Matt Evans [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] Kosuke Endo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] DTH Van Der Merwe [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] Alisi Tupuailai [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ryan Smith [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] Ryan Nicholas [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Phil Mackenzie [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] Hirotoki Onozawa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ander Monro [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] James Arlidge [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ed Fairhurst [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] Fumiaki Tanaka [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Aaron Carpenter [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] Takashi Kikutani [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Chauncey O'Toole [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] Michael Leitch [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Adam Kleeburger [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] Sione Talikavili Vatuvei [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jamie Cudmore [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] Toshizumi Kitagawa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jebb Sinclair [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] Luke Thompson [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jason Marshall [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] Nozomu Fujita [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Pat Riordan [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] Shota Horie [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Hubert Buydens [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] Hisateru Hirashima [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ryan Hamilton [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] Yusuke Aoki [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Scott Franklin [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] Kensuke Hatakeyama [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Tyler Hotson [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] Hotishi Ono [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jeremy Kyne [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] Toetuu Taufa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sean White [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] Atsushi Hisawa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Nathan Hirayama [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] Murray Williams [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Conor Trainor [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] Bryce Robins [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[LittleGuy]

An update on the Canadian teams fitness 29 of the 30 players trained today with only DTH Van De Merwe not on the field, apparently he should be ok, in 3-4 days time so great news for Canada.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Fantastic news about DTH, it looked like he had broken his arm in the France game. We can all exhale now .

As far as the lineup goes, what does everyone expect? I say go with the same squad, just swap Evans for Hearn in the starting XV, and Hearn for Hirayama on the bench.

 

[LittleGuy]

Fantastic news about DTH, it looked like he had broken his arm in the France game. We can all exhale now .

As far as the lineup goes, what does everyone expect? I say go with the same squad, just swap Evans for Hearn in the starting XV, and Hearn for Hirayama on the bench.

I pretty much agree CDN_Rugby although I might put Smith on the bench as well, NOT because he has played poorly in fact I think this is the best I've ever seen him in the Canadian jersey, but because of Japan's speed Smith was effective against Tonga and France because they were going inside for much of the match and his size was put to good use there. I really want to see Evans start and I agree Hirayama struggled in his limited action and I wouldn't miss him. Evans and even Pritchard can fill in at #10 if something happens to Monro(god I hope not Monro has been positively inspired).

I expect Pritch to have a better game with the boot as the weather should be better and he won't be distracted by the recent birth of his daughter two hours before game time(he should have told the fans!!! We would have understood!!! although I'm surprised Monro didn't take the tee eventually). Hearn has looked pretty average so far not really a weak link but hasn't gotten into the thick of things I hardly hear him mentioned during the games. I'm really looking for Chauncey O'Toole to break out in this match, he got injured early in the Tonga game and looked decent against the French but I really think he can cut inside the smaller Japanese defenders.

Edit: A small question was it ever mentioned who took the captaincy after Riordan and Monro had left the field vs. France? Fairhurst, O'Toole , DTH and Cudmore were also off the field at the time. I'm assuming it was Pritchard but possibly Smith as an option, I don't really know who else they would hand it to.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

I pretty much agree CDN_Rugby although I might put Smith on the bench as well, NOT because he has played poorly in fact I think this is the best I've ever seen him in the Canadian jersey, but because of Japan's speed Smith was effective against Tonga and France because they were going inside for much of the match and his size was put to good use there. I really want to see Evans start and I agree Hirayama struggled in his limited action and I wouldn't miss him. Evans and even Pritchard can fill in at #10 if something happens to Monro(god I hope not Monro has been positively inspired).

I expect Pritch to have a better game with the boot as the weather should be better and he won't be distracted by the recent birth of his daughter two hours before game time(he should have told the fans!!! We would have understood!!! although I'm surprised Monro didn't take the tee eventually). Hearn has looked pretty average so far not really a weak link but hasn't gotten into the thick of things I hardly hear him mentioned during the games. I'm really looking for Chauncey O'Toole to break out in this match, he got injured early in the Tonga game and looked decent against the French but I really think he can cut inside the smaller Japanese defenders.

Edit: A small question was it ever mentioned who took the captaincy after Riordan and Monro had left the field vs. France? Fairhurst, O'Toole , DTH and Cudmore were also off the field at the time. I'm assuming it was Pritchard but possibly Smith as an option, I don't really know who else they would hand it to.

If I recall correctly, I think Smith took over the captaincy when Monro and Riordan went off. And I didn't choose to omit Hirayama based on form, but because Monro, Evans, and Smith (and to a lesser degree Pritchard) all have played flyhalf at some point. You're right about Hearn though, he doesn't screw up but doesn't really do anything either. Given that, Evans has to get a start.

And yeah, hats off to Smith, great effort by him so far, he's playing as good as I've ever seen.

 

[Dizzy]

Might go to this game.. The Japanese team has grown on me throughout the tournament... But Canada will be too strong. Canada 14+

 

[LittleGuy]

If I recall correctly, I think Smith took over the captaincy when Monro and Riordan went off. And I didn't choose to omit Hirayama based on form, but because Monro, Evans, and Smith (and to a lesser degree Pritchard) all have played flyhalf at some point. You're right about Hearn though, he doesn't screw up but doesn't really do anything either. Given that, Evans has to get a start.

And yeah, hats off to Smith, great effort by him so far, he's playing as good as I've ever seen.

Smith does captain the Wolf Pack and I think he was also captain for the Canada vs. Belgium game last November so that makes sense. I think I judged Hirayama a little harshly, it is hard to come in so late and be effective especially in compariosn to Monro who has been brilliant.

 

[Canucks]

Watching Tonga vs Japan, Japan really struggles in rucking and seems to have difficulty playing teams with versatile forwards. Tonga dominated all turnover ball during the game. Japan also doesn't look like it would enjoy committing to a physical still of play, especially in the backs as they missed a lot of tackles vs Tonga by not being committed. When you ankle dive, you either did something very wrong or are playing with a good degree apprehension. When you miss the ankle dive, you wanted to appear like you were trying or he's slippery. When 2 of you miss an ankle dive of the same play that leads a try, then there's some issue with apprehension or the other guy is covered in cooking oil.
The 2 most important stats in determining how a game went are Total tackles and % of tackles made. Teams with the better % of tackles made normally win unless there's a huge amount of total tackles for them, meaning one time controlled the other.
Think its a joke, then check these out (% of tackles made)
Pool A:
New Zealand 41 (94%) - Tonga 10 (82%)
France 47 (87%) - Japan (81%)
Canada 25 (88%) - Tonga 20 (78%)
New Zealand 83 (94%) - Japan 7 (79%)
France 46 (85%) - Canada 19 ( 83%)
Tonga 31 (89%) - Japan 19 (85%)
Pool B:
Scotland 34(91%) - Romania 24 (81%)
England 13 (88%) - Argentina 9 (95%) ------missed kicks
Scotland 15 (92%) - Georgia 6 (87%)
Argentina 43 (92%) - Romania 8 (85%)
England 41 (94%) - Georgia 10 (84%)

Pool C
Australia 32 (92.11%) - Italy 6 (92.04%)
Ireland 22 (93%) - USA 10 (89%)
USA 13 (84%) - Russia 6 (87%) -- Russia has ball possession issues
Ireland 15 (90%) - Australia 6 (89%)
Italy 53 (86%) - Russia 17 (87%) ---- see above

Pool D
Fiji 49 (80%) - Namibia 25 (75%)
South Africa 17 (89%) - Wales 16 (90%) --- Wales missed 2 kicks at end to win.
Samoa 49 (90%) - Namibia 12 (82%)
South Africa 49 (83%) - Fiji 3 (81%)
Wales 17 (89%) - Samoa 10 (83%)

Of the 20 games so far, 16 were won by the team that makes the highest percentage of the tackles. This is because the team that makes the higher % also works with determining who broke more tackles.
Canada is sitting at 85% over 2 games with opponents averaging at 82%
Japan is sitting at 82% over 3 games with oppenents averaging at 90%

Canada makes more tackles and breaks more tackles. That being said watch Japan come out a ruin all the stats by making 110%. You know how they will do that. 12 switch meet sumo wrestler. Goodbye Monro and Trainor.

 

[LittleGuy]

You would have Monro out of the lineup Canucks? He has been brilliant and is a damn good tackler for his size, I think he has filled the outside channels mostly because of his speed advantage over Smith.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

You would have Monro out of the lineup Canucks? He has been brilliant and is a damn good tackler for his size, I think he has filled the outside channels mostly because of his speed advantage over Smith.

As far as I'm concerned, outside of DTH and Kleeberger, Monro has been our best player.

 

[Canucks]

You would have Monro out of the lineup Canucks? He has been brilliant and is a damn good tackler for his size, I think he has filled the outside channels mostly because of his speed advantage over Smith.

No no, I was making a joke. See big sumo tackles both Monro and Trainor at a switch so he get credits for a 2 for 1 tackle. I fear if that where to happen, poor little Monro would just disapear into the sumo body. Watch it's going to happen.

 

[LittleGuy]

No no, I was making a joke. See big sumo tackles both Monro and Trainor at a switch so he get credits for a 2 for 1 tackle. I fear if that where to happen, poor little Monro would just disapear into the sumo body. Watch it's going to happen.

Oh sorry LOL, can you imagine a sumo taclking the backup Russian scrumhalf who scored thier first ever try the other night, he would be swallowed whole!!!

 

[Dougydeluxe]

Canada should run this game... meaning we will finish 3rd and automatically qualify for the next RWC... more funding from IRB!!!

 

[Moody Fool]

Canada should run this game... meaning we will finish 3rd and automatically qualify for the next RWC... more funding from IRB!!!

Don't be too sure. Japan is tough. Canada has looked better in recent hames but It is anyone's match to win.

 

[LittleGuy]

Don't be too sure. Japan is tough. Canada has looked better in recent hames but It is anyone's match to win.

Japan has looked dangerous at times, Has anyone heard of their injury status? I heard several key players were in bad shape.

 

[formerlyfastwing]

I think Canada win this in a close game. I reckon our fowards will be the difference. As the old saying goes, "Forwards win the match, Backs decide by how much".

 

[LittleGuy]

I think Canada win this in a close game. I reckon our fowards will be the difference. As the old saying goes, "Forwards win the match, Backs decide by how much".

I agree FFW, as long as we can keep the turnovers down and prevent a ton of Japanese breaks on the on the wing I would give Canada the advantage in the game. As well Canada still has a chance to finish third and should be the more motivated team come next week.

 

[rusty_lock]

I agree FFW, as long as we can keep the turnovers down and prevent a ton of Japanese breaks on the on the wing I would give Canada the advantage in the game. As well Canada still has a chance to finish third and should be the more motivated team come next week.

Japan is going to be pretty motivated as well. They don't want to go home 0-4 and will be well and truly giving it their all. It is going to be tough no matter what.

 

[LittleGuy]

Japan is going to be pretty motivated as well. They don't want to go home 0-4 and will be well and truly giving it their all. It is going to be tough no matter what.

They have showed great passion so far, I really wonder whether Kirwan's decision to rest players vs. NZ broke the strong momentum they had coming out of the France game. They have played a lot better this RWC but oddly enough if they lose to Canada they won't have as many points as they did last time round.

It looks like Pritch wants some redemption from the disastrous November 09 tour to Japan.

http://http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/Sport/Bedford-Blues-RUFC/Pritch-eyes-redemption-day-after-last-hari-kari-horror-against-Japan-17092011.htm

 

[formerlyfastwing]

just so you all know, I spoke to the Aunt of Adam Kleeberger yesterday......when Canada wins I expect the proper credit.