To be fair Japan looked a well coached side when I've seen them play. They blew a 16-0 lead against a pretty strong Samoa side in the PNC and had a chance to win from a conversion from the touchline in the last minute that missed. (
http://www.irb.com/pacificnationscup/matches/match=12590/index.html) They also gave Italy a close match last year and hold their own against the Pacific Islands. It will be interesting to see how they go against Wales next year, I think they will keep that a lot closer than they've ever come to Wales before for sure. However their scrummaging is a weak point (curiously however they are great on the maul despite being poor scrummagers), and on occasions tackling in the backs. Of course though, Japan have beaten Scotland before once.
However Japan have a history of performing much better outside of World Cups than they do in World Cups. For example in 2009 Japan beat Canada 46-8 and 27-6 in a two test series in November, yet when they faced off at the RWC Canada finished ahead of Japan and the Japanese record at World Cup remained at one win (against Zimbabwe) in 1991. In 2011 many thought that would be the tournament they finally showed some significant improvements and could emerge from the World Cup with a much bigger reputation but they again failed to impress on the big stage. This is partly due to the fact Japan are the exception in Tier 2 as they can get all their players available reliably with no problems and train and prepare for a much longer period than say Canada who would have likely got half their European based squad just a few days before the international if they get them available at all.
As for Fiji, they are unpredictable, I think Wales' set piece is too strong. I think Fiji are too hard to predict this far out, I don't think that the Ireland match was fully indicative of their level as they didn't seem to give much effort, they should up their game for the big occasion and perhaps give teams a rough 30 minutes or so perhaps at the least. On the otherhand, it is a possibility that Fiji could quit bothering too much about Union considering they'll never win the RWC whilst they have a realistic chance of winning the Olympics at Sevens. I would expect more of the performance they showed against Scotland this year, where they had their moments in the match but ultimately their weaknesses were shown up.
And Japan have been able to do a few things in RWC's, but they're nowhere near the intensity and quality of other Tier 2 or 3 teams right now, forget Tier 1.
In fact, they should seriously reconsider the whole thing in my opinion...it's been a few world cups now they've gotten ANNIHILATED by others; I mean, what's the point of competing ?...either seriously work on your team and rugby culture or just opt out, I dunno, what's the point of getting smashed by triple digit every time ?!
I see they're makin some moves in their league now...that's cool. But they've been there since the first RWC...they've always seemed to have some above avg. attack for their caliber, but the defense just isn't there...at all.
Funny how Canada tied with them twice in a row in the RWC hehe...forgot about that.
Would you like to explain how a team "nowhere near" the quality of Tier 2 or 3 teams, led a good Samoa side ranked #7 in the world 16-0 and nearly beat them this year? Or how that side led Italy at half time away from home last year and only lost by 7 points. Not as good as them but hardly "nowhere near". They were also just 25-21 behind to France in the RWC after 65 minutes last year, hardly "annihilated". They have shown in those two recent matches they can be competitive with the lower Tier 1 sides, and have held their own against Pacific Island opposition for a few years now and also have a favourable record with North American sides outside World Cups. Just their problem is consistently under performing at the big tournament.
They only got destroyed by the All Blacks in a match they played their second string and against a team that many better sides than the Japanese second string have been destroyed by.
You clearly think Japan are Namibia like by the tone of your post, consider the facts before posting for once.
