Japan vs Canada

[Melhor Time]

Following the success of the Canadian provinces in the Americas Rugby Championships I was expecting to see a number of players in the test side for this game vs Japan. Sadly, the coach has gone for an aged team made of of a lot of not so good European based players. Ander Monro starting at flyhalf instead of the younger and far better Nate Hirayama. Speedy Sean Duke on the bench to give the clumsy Justin Mensah-Coker a start at wing is a massive mistake too. These two choices, to me, are poor. Hirayama and Duke are both certainties to be in the World Cup XV and Canada are not going to have many more chances between now and then. Less than 10 tests to go for them.

It is the first match between the two countries since their fantastic drawn match in Bordeaux at the World Cup in 2007. A lot at stake in this as both target better positions in the World Rankings and, of course, they will be in the same pool (Pool A with France, New Zealand and Tonga) in New Zealand 2011.

Japan should be favourites, after getting good wins at home last year vs the USA. But, of course, either team can win.

Canada
1. Kevin Tkachuk (Glasgow Warriors)
2. Pat Riordan Captain (U Vic Vikes)
3. Dan Pletch (Oakville Crusaders)
4. Josh Jackson (Bordeaux Begles)
5. Tyler Hotson (Plymouth Albion)
6. Chauncey O'Toole (Castaway Wanderers)
7. Adam Kleeberger (Rotherham ***ans)
8. Aaron Carpenter (Coventry RFC)
9. Phil Mack (UVic Vikes)
10. Ander Monro (Castaway Wanderers)
11. Justin Mensah-Coker (Plymouth Albion)
12. Bryn Keys (Moseley)
13. Matt Evans (Hartpury College)
14. Ciaran Hearn (Castaway Wanderers)
15. James Pritchard (Bedford RFC)

Replacements
16. Mike Pletch (Velox Valhallians)
17. Doug Wooldridge (Cowichan RFC)
18. Jebb Sinclair (Castaway Wanderers
19. Nanyak Dala (Castaway Wanderers)
20. Sean White (James Bay AA)
21. Sean Duke (UVic Vikes)
22. Nathan Hirayama (UVic Vikes)

No word yet on the Japanese XV.

 

[Melhor Time]

Japan team confirmed with three new caps. They are hooker Shota Horie, lock Daniel Quate (from New Zealand) and wing Alisi Tupuailei (from Tonga)

Japan

15 Go Aruga, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Shaun Webb, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka/Tomoki Yoshida, 8 Takashi Kikutani (captain), 7 Phil O’Reilly, 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Naoki Kawamata.

Replacements: 16 , 17 , 18 Daniel Quate, 19 Shinya Makabe, 20 Tomoki Yoshida/Yuki Yatomi, 21 James Arlidge, 22 Alisi Tupuailei

It should be a fantastic game. I caanot find any live feeds for the game on the internet. If anybody knows let me know!

 

[Melhor Time]

Italy vs New Zealand did not see backs breaking free for tries.

England vs Argentina, with a second choice backline for the visitors didn't either.

Wales vs Samoa saw running rugby but only 2 tries.

Scotland vs Fiji saw few tries too.

The real rugby came in Sendai, Japan!

Looks like my distaste for aged players proved fataly correct for Canada. Interestingly, Canada's only try was scored by that man Nate Hirayama who, for no good reason, did not start the test. Japan won by an incredible 46-8, scoring 6 tries and running the Canadians all over the park. They were a complete team and even turnout over a scrum (tighthead) en route to creating one of their tries. Whatever John Kirwan has his players doing it is certainly looking very good. Japan defeated the USA twice last year at hom and now demolished the better ranked Canadians, and di so like never before. These two teams will meet in thr World Cup and will fight it out with Tonga to try to finish third behind France and New Zealand in the pool. 2 years out it looks like Tonga are out of touch while Japan have never looked better.

Game 2 next weekend.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Japan beat Canada 46-8 in Sendai on Saturday, the first of the Tests in the two-Test series and Japan's biggest win over Canada ever in over 70 years of matches between the two countries.

In a strong wind at Yurtec Stadium, Japan dominated possession and territory and from a penalty assisted line-out Michael Leitch scored from the maul. 5-0 after 8 minutes.

James Pritchard, Canada's Australian-born, England-based full back goaled a penalty but Shaun Webb responded with two for Japan.

Hirotoki Onozawa was close when he intercepted and ran 40 metres till forced out near the corner.

Just before half-time Japan won a tighthead at a scrum five metres from the Canadian line and captain and No.8 Takashi Kikutani went over for a try which Webb converted. There was still time for Japan to score again when Japan countered off a turnover and Koji Taira raced 40 metres. He was tackled but fullback Go Aruga was up to get possession and score.

Japan led a healthy 25-3 at half-time.

Canada tested Japan's defence in the second half till centre Alisis Tupuailei kicked, chased and scored and then Hirotoki Onozawa dived over for a try and after 52 minutes Japan led 39-3. Newly capped hooker Shota Horie scored Japan's sixth try with eight minutes to play. James Arlidge who "made" the try converted.

Just before the end wing Justin Mensah-Cocker kicked ahead and Nathan Hirayama scored for Canada.

This outcome augurs well for the second Test and Japan's participation in the World Cup-qualifying Asian 5 Nations.

Scorers:

For Japan:
Tries: Leitch, Kikutani, Aruga, Tupuailei, Onozawa, Horie
Cons: Webb 2, Arlidge
Pens: Webb

For Canada:
Try: Hirayama
Pen: Pritchard

Teams

Canada: 15 James Pritchard, 14 Ciaran Hearn, 13 Matt Evans, Bryn Keys, 11 Justin Mensah-Coker, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Phil Mack, 8 Aaron Carpenter, 7 Adam Kleeberger, 6 Chauncey O'Toole, 5 Tyler Hotson, 4 Josh Jackson, 3 Dan Pletch, 2 Pat Riordan Captain, 1 Kevin Tkachuk (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)
Replacements: 16 Mike Pletch, 17 Doug Wooldridge, 18 Jebb Sinclair, 19 Nanyak Dala, 20 Sean White, 21 Sean Duke, 22 Nathan Hirayama

Coaches: Kieran Crowley, John Tait

Japan: 15 Go Aruga, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Shaun Webb, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka/Tomoki Yoshida, 8 Takashi Kikutani (captain), 7 Phil O’Reilly, 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Naoki Kawamata.[/b]

 

[Wally]

Love the strong Japanese blood that must run through Phil O'Reilly's veins. Also if I didn't know any better I would say Hirayama sounds very Japanese for a Canadian player?