Japan RWC 2011

[Melhor Time]

Here is my prediction: <!-- m -->http://www.rugbymania.com.br/2009/ver_noticia08.asp?codigo=4235

2 wins and 2 losses. Thus pool phase elimination but automatic qualification for England 2015.

Japan vs France - loss
New Zealand vs Japan - loss
Japan vs Tonga - win
Japan vs Canada - win

Suggested lineup:
15 Go Aruga (Suntory Sungoliath)
14 Kosuke Endo (Toyota Verblitz)
13 Koji Taira (Suntory Sungoliath)
12 Ryan Nicholas (Suntory Sungoliath)
11 Hirotoki Onozawa (Suntory Sungoliath)
10 James Arlidge (Nottingham, England)
9 Fumiaki Tanaka (Sanyo Wild Knights)
8 Ryukoliniasi Holani (Sanyo Wild Knights)
7 Toetuu Taufa (Kintestsu Liners)
6 Takashi Kikutani capitão (Toyota Verblitz)
5 Luke Thompson (Kintetsu Liners)
4 Hitoshi Ono (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory Sungoliath)
2 Shota Korie (Sanyo Wild Knights)
1 Naoki Kawamaka (Sanyo Wild Knights)

Bench: 16 Hikori Yukara (Toshiba Brave Lupus), 17 Hisateru Hirashima (Kobe Steelers), 18 Toshizumi Kitagawa (Toyota Verblitz), 19 Michael Leitch (Tokai University), 20 Koji Wada (Toyota Verblitz), 21 Shaun Webb (Coca Cola West Red Sparks), 22 Alisi Tuiuailei (Canon Eagles)

Additional Squad Players: 23 Takeshi Kizu (Tokai University), 24 Nozomu Fujita (Honda Heat), 25 Shinya Makabe (Suntory Sungoliath), 26 Itaru Taniguchi (Kobe Steelers), 27 Tadasuke Nishihara (Sanyo Wild Knights), 28 Atsushi Hiwasa (Suntory Sungoliath), 29 Bryce Robbins (NEC Green Rockets), 30 Atsushi Tanabi (Sanyo Wild Knights)

- Great players in the outside backs and every improving players in the backrow and centres. Overall a strong side, but not at the level of the top tier just yet.
- Increasingly Japanese with fewer and fewer imported players.
- Undefeated vs Tonga and Canada since the previous World Cup.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

Not a bad team there Melhor..Though Alesi Tupuailei is a MUST to start. He is their biggest impact player if youve seen him play for japan, runs hard, tackles hard and always draws 2-3 defenders to take him down in the tackle. Id be happy with him to at Centre. Christian Loamanu would be a definate starter had he not been banned playing for Japan because of substance abuse (I think it was marajuana). bit harsh by the JRFU but I suppose they're setting a hard example for the future that they wont tolerate recreational drug use even from their top players. 2 wins in pool play wouldnt be too far fetched for the Japan side to achieve at the next world cup with physicality and 3-4 gamebreakers holding them back from causeing any major upset.

My Japan world cup side
1 Hisateru Hirashima
2 Shota Horie
3 Kensuke Hatakeyama
4 Hitoshi Ono (vc)
5 Luke Thompson
6 Takashi Kikutani (c)
7 Toetuu Taufa
8 Ryukoliniasi Holani
9 Fumiaki Tanaka
10 James Arlidge
11 Hirotoki Onozawa
12 Ryan Nicholas
13 Alesi Tupuailei
14 Kosuke Endo
15 Shaun Webb

16 Hiroki Yuhara
17 Hisateru Hirashima
18 Toshizumi Kitagawa
19 Michael leitch
20 Takashi Suzuki
21 Bryce Robins/Yuta Imamura
22 Go Aruga

 

[ranger]

Why not Bryce Robbins on the bench? he can play 10 to 15 and has looked quality everytime ive seen him. He was almost a lone soldier against the Maori in the Pac nations cup a few years ago. Although that was a while ago admittedly.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

Why not Bryce Robbins on the bench? he can play 10 to 15 and has looked quality everytime ive seen him. He was almost a lone soldier against the Maori in the Pac nations cup a few years ago. Although that was a while ago admittedly.

Yes I do remember that game. They were in front and were playing out of their skins till halftime they were up 22-17. He did have a good game and he was a solid player when he stepped in for Arlidge at the RWC 2007 soo I have reedited my squad to include him on the bench.

 

[nickdnz]

Here is my prediction: <!-- m -->http://www.rugbymania.com.br/2009/ver_noticia08.asp?codigo=4235

2 wins and 2 losses. Thus pool phase elimination but automatic qualification for England 2015.

Japan vs France - loss
New Zealand vs Japan - loss
Japan vs Tonga - win
Japan vs Canada - win

Suggested lineup:
15 Go Aruga (Suntory Sungoliath)
14 Kosuke Endo (Toyota Verblitz)
13 Koji Taira (Suntory Sungoliath)
12 Ryan Nicholas (Suntory Sungoliath)
11 Hirotoki Onozawa (Suntory Sungoliath)
10 James Arlidge (Nottingham, England)
9 Fumiaki Tanaka (Sanyo Wild Knights)
8 Ryukoliniasi Holani (Sanyo Wild Knights)
7 Toetuu Taufa (Kintestsu Liners)
6 Takashi Kikutani capitão (Toyota Verblitz)
5 Luke Thompson (Kintetsu Liners)
4 Hitoshi Ono (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory Sungoliath)
2 Shota Korie (Sanyo Wild Knights)
1 Naoki Kawamaka (Sanyo Wild Knights)

Bench: 16 Hikori Yukara (Toshiba Brave Lupus), 17 Hisateru Hirashima (Kobe Steelers), 18 Toshizumi Kitagawa (Toyota Verblitz), 19 Michael Leitch (Tokai University), 20 Koji Wada (Toyota Verblitz), 21 Shaun Webb (Coca Cola West Red Sparks), 22 Alisi Tuiuailei (Canon Eagles)

Additional Squad Players: 23 Takeshi Kizu (Tokai University), 24 Nozomu Fujita (Honda Heat), 25 Shinya Makabe (Suntory Sungoliath), 26 Itaru Taniguchi (Kobe Steelers), 27 Tadasuke Nishihara (Sanyo Wild Knights), 28 Atsushi Hiwasa (Suntory Sungoliath), 29 Bryce Robbins (NEC Green Rockets), 30 Atsushi Tanabi (Sanyo Wild Knights)

Why no Alisi Tupuailei? He has been probably Japan's most dangerous attacker over the last year. He was by far and away the star player when the played North Harbour. Agree 100% with AfakasiAssassin that he should start at centre.

 

[MichaelBoard]

As a Dragons supporter I really rate James Arlidge at 10. Was very under-rated for us, more solid than spectacular but did his job and kicking very well. I only wish he was still at the parade (surely moving to Nottingham in the English Championship is a step-down from the Magners? Although I don't know of the circumstances with regards to why he moved.) instead of Matthew Jones as I really do not rate Jones. Having Tovey and Arlidge competing for the 10 spot would have been great for the Dragons.

 

[psychic duck]

As a Dragons supporter I really rate James Arlidge at 10. Was very under-rated for us, more solid than spectacular but did his job and kicking very well. I only wish he was still at the parade (surely moving to Nottingham in the English Championship is a step-down from the Magners? Although I don't know of the circumstances with regards to why he moved.) instead of Matthew Jones as I really do not rate Jones. Having Tovey and Arlidge competing for the 10 spot would have been great for the Dragons.

James Arlidge wasn't good, he wasn't at all what the Dragons needed

It's hard for me in Europe to say whether Japan will be good, as I haven't seen most of the players play, but Tonga will be a hard match for them, with the likes of Tonga'uiha (who's just had a belter of a match against Perpignan) and more massive Tongans in their side.

But I'm not saying they will lose to Tonga, because as I've mentioned, Japan could have got their own good forward pack over the last four years

I think they will be beat Canada though, who haven't really progressed a great deal since 2007, and don't have many players playing professionally (apart from at Glasgow), they have lost some good professional first team players which they had a few of around about 1999 RWC where they were strong, gradually the likes of Mike James, Morgan Williams, Gareth Rees, Winston Stanley, Al Charron, Dave Lougheed Rod Snow, John Tait and Jon Thiel, all players who played first team European rugby for some good teams, all retired

Now ust Cudmore, Tkachuk and DTH van der Merwe are first team professionals, I can see them struggling this RWC

 

[MichaelBoard]

James Arlidge wasn't good, he wasn't at all what the Dragons needed

It's hard for me in Europe to say whether Japan will be good, as I haven't seen most of the players play, but Tonga will be a hard match for them, with the likes of Tonga'uiha (who's just had a belter of a match against Perpignan) and more massive Tongans in their side.

But I'm not saying they will lose to Tonga, because as I've mentioned, Japan could have got their own good forward pack over the last four years

I think they will be beat Canada though, who haven't really progressed a great deal since 2007, and don't have many players playing professionally (apart from at Glasgow), they have lost some good professional first team players which they had a few of around about 1999 RWC where they were strong, gradually the likes of Mike James, Morgan Williams, Gareth Rees, Winston Stanley, Al Charron, Dave Lougheed Rod Snow, John Tait and Jon Thiel, all players who played first team European rugby for some good teams, all retired

Now ust Cudmore, Tkachuk and DTH van der Merwe are first team professionals, I can see them struggling this RWC

He was good, he wasn't great but he was a good player and far better than Matthew Jones. Matthew Jones is not what we needed.

 

[Draggs]

He was good, he wasn't great but he was a good player and far better than Matthew Jones. Matthew Jones is not what we needed.

I agree. That being said, Steffan Jones looks to be better than Arlidge, and he is a local player.

 

[MichaelBoard]

Yeah you're right there Draggs, I watched the game on the tele as it was sold out and I was wondering who he was, but looks a good prospect, how old is he? I'm guessing fairly young. I think the way we keep giving young welsh talent opportunities at the Dragons will pay off soon enough, we've already assembled a good young squad full of welsh players with potential.

 

[ranger]

Thats weird, when Arlidge first came to prominance in NZ he had a very accomplished running game. Has had a horror run with injuries however so that may have sapped some of his pace.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

James Arlidge wasn't good, he wasn't at all what the Dragons needed

It's hard for me in Europe to say whether Japan will be good, as I haven't seen most of the players play, but Tonga will be a hard match for them, with the likes of Tonga'uiha (who's just had a belter of a match against Perpignan) and more massive Tongans in their side.

But I'm not saying they will lose to Tonga, because as I've mentioned, Japan could have got their own good forward pack over the last four years

I think they will be beat Canada though, who haven't really progressed a great deal since 2007, and don't have many players playing professionally (apart from at Glasgow), they have lost some good professional first team players which they had a few of around about 1999 RWC where they were strong, gradually the likes of Mike James, Morgan Williams, Gareth Rees, Winston Stanley, Al Charron, Dave Lougheed Rod Snow, John Tait and Jon Thiel, all players who played first team European rugby for some good teams, all retired

Now ust Cudmore, Tkachuk and DTH van der Merwe are first team professionals, I can see them struggling this RWC

While they lack the size physicality and Impact of the Tongans...The Japanese make up for in their structure, technique, fitness and organisation. the Japanese have been unbeaten against the Tongans for a few years now, as they are able to organise and prepare their squads well in advance and retain the majority of their core players which is a benefiet for the team to gel. The Tongans lack this even though they have the names and the talent, which is why they are consistantly getting beaten by the Japanese lately.

 

[LittleGuy]

James Arlidge wasn't good, he wasn't at all what the Dragons needed

It's hard for me in Europe to say whether Japan will be good, as I haven't seen most of the players play, but Tonga will be a hard match for them, with the likes of Tonga'uiha (who's just had a belter of a match against Perpignan) and more massive Tongans in their side.

But I'm not saying they will lose to Tonga, because as I've mentioned, Japan could have got their own good forward pack over the last four years

I think they will be beat Canada though, who haven't really progressed a great deal since 2007, and don't have many players playing professionally (apart from at Glasgow), they have lost some good professional first team players which they had a few of around about 1999 RWC where they were strong, gradually the likes of Mike James, Morgan Williams, Gareth Rees, Winston Stanley, Al Charron, Dave Lougheed Rod Snow, John Tait and Jon Thiel, all players who played first team European rugby for some good teams, all retired

Now ust Cudmore, Tkachuk and DTH van der Merwe are first team professionals, I can see them struggling this RWC

There are a lot of Canadian players in the RFU Championship and many of them are amongst the best players on their team, James Pritchard and Sean-Michel Stephen are good examples. I think there are still a couple of guys in D2 in France as well. I do agree we are not nearly as good a side as 1999 or even 2003 though. There are going to be a lot of similarities to the 2007 squad, I could see Canada going 0-4 or even 2-2. There are some issues at the scrum we might have one of the worst scrums at the entire RWC, at #11-15 I think the team should be strong though.

I don't rate Tonga as highly as many at TRF do, they have depth issues and got stuck with the worst schedule in the pool.

 

[Super Sub]

Japan might have beaten Tonga the last few years, but I suspect Tonga will be full strength for the World Cup and I don't know if Japan will be able to beat that team. Tonga's pack will be far superior to what they put up for the Pacific Cup.

 

[jordiev]

so what?Christian Loamanu wont be at the world cup? hrmm idk alot of there flagship players are older now so maybe they will lose some of there speed

 

[ranger]

so what?Christian Loamanu wont be at the world cup? hrmm idk alot of there flagship players are older now so maybe they will lose some of there speed

Did some weed, banned for life. Probably a can of worms thats not worth going into

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

so what?Christian Loamanu wont be at the world cup? hrmm idk alot of there flagship players are older now so maybe they will lose some of there speed

unfortunately no, he is banned for life to represent JaPan by the JRFU. John Kirwin tried to appeal the ban this year but was unsuccessful. shame teaming him with Tupuailei and Endo they could've had themselves a formitable trio in the back field.

 

[jordiev]

wow .... well idk if they had him with the aformentioned players theyre backs woulda been deadly.. spose endo will have to do tho