June International Tests: Japan vs. Romania (10/06/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Umakana Yokana Stadium
Time: 07:40 (CAT, SA GMT+2)​

 

[Welshdragon2000]

Can't wait for this one, gonna be a cracker. Japan should win but it won't be an easy game for them by any means

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I think it could be fairly straightforward for Japan if they pick their strongest XV as their coach is top class, it'll be hot and humid and their conditioning is good. But these sides are close in the world rankings for a reason. Delighted the fixture is happening.

A nice welcome for Romania at the airport including a blushing embarrassed bear and an equally embarrassed "samurai"!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

A far, far stronger Japanese selection than in November. Looks pretty much full strength to me.

http://en.rugby-japan.jp/2017/06/01/japan-squad-for-lipovitan-d-challenge-cup-2017/

 

[Welshdragon2000]

Sunwolves players not released for this one then I take it?

 

[Welshdragon2000]

Could Japan break into the top 10 if results go their way this June?

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Sunwolves players not released for this one then I take it?

No, they are all there. They are just listed next to their Top League sides for some reason. It could be a sign of the tension between the Top League and the Sunwolves. Everyone who should be there is there (minus Lemeki and Shigeno - but Lemeki must not be recovered from injury yet). If it is hot conditions I think they could make a game of it against Ireland.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

No, they are all there. They are just listed next to their Top League sides for some reason. It could be a sign of the tension between the Top League and the Sunwolves. Everyone who should be there is there (minus Lemeki and Shigeno - but Lemeki must not be recovered from injury yet). If it is hot conditions I think they could make a game of it against Ireland.

Could Japan break into the top 10 if results go their way this June?

With two games against Ireland I'm sure Japan could in theory overhaul Fiji and take tenth. Argentina are too far ahead in 9th I would imagine.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

No, they are all there. They are just listed next to their Top League sides for some reason. It could be a sign of the tension between the Top League and the Sunwolves. Everyone who should be there is there (minus Lemeki and Shigeno - but Lemeki must not be recovered from injury yet). If it is hot conditions I think they could make a game of it against Ireland.

Glad to hear that they're there.

With two games against Ireland I'm sure Japan could in theory overhaul Fiji and take tenth. Argentina are too far ahead in 9th I would imagine.

I can't see them beating Ireland twice, maybe once but the not twice. So pleased to see Japan on the up though, I would love to see them do well in the World Cup and I think they have to start looking ahead to it now and start getting some momentum going.

 

[Brigantine]

Could Japan break into the top 10 if results go their way this June?

Interesting question... If Italy beats Fiji by 15+ (and Fiji lose to Scotland and Australia), then Japan only needs to beat Romania.

Well, assuming Argentina beats Georgia, anyway.

I agree that 9th place is too much to ask for. Even with a whitewash for Japan (3 wins of 15+) that only puts them on about 79 RP. They would still need Argentina to lose to Georgia, or Wales to lose to Tonga AND Samoa, or Ireland to lose to USA by 15+.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

Interesting question... If Italy beats Fiji by 15+ (and Fiji lose to Scotland and Australia), then Japan only needs to beat Romania.

Well, assuming Argentina beats Georgia, anyway.

Thanks mate, I expect there's a few scenarios that it could happen in.

 

[amz]

Oaks are enjoying a lot their time in Japan considering their facebook and twitter posts.

Here is Oaks squad:

PROPS:
Constantin Pristavita (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Alexandru Tarus (Sale Sharks)
Alexandru Gordas (CSA Steaua Bucuresti)
Andrei Ursache (Carcassonne)
Ionel Badiu (Carcassonne)

HOOKERS:
Eugen Capatana (Timisoara Saracens)
Otar Turashvili (Colomiers)
Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens)

LOCKS:
Valentin Poparlan (Timisoara Saracens)
Johannes Van Heerden (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)
Marius Antonescu (Colomiers)
Andrei Iurea (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)

BACKROW:
Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua Bucuresti)
Andrei Gorcioaia (Massy)
Vlad Nistor (Albi)
Mihai Macovei (Colomiers)

SCRUM-HALVES:
Florin Surugiu (CSA Steaua Bucuresti)
Tudorel Bratu (CS Dinamo Bucuresti)

FLY-HALVES:
Florin Vlaicu (CSA Steaua Bucuresti)
Luke Samoa (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)

CENTERS:
Florin Vladut Popa (Timisoara Saracens)
Paula Kinikinilau (CSM Bucuresti Bucuresti)
Sione Fakaosilea (CSM Stiinta Baia Mare)

WINGS:
Ionut Dumitru (CSA Steaua Bucuresti)
Jack Cobden (CSM Bucuresti)
Tangimana Fonovai (Timisoara Saracens)

FULLBACK:
Sabin Stratila (CSA Steaua Bucuresti)
Marius Simionescu (Timisoara Saracens)

LE:



Glad to see Massimo Cuttita there again, he wasn't in the first staff announced by Federation.

It seems that there are more players than initially announced because I noticed in videos posted by FRR young Ovidiu Cojocaru (21 yo) from CSM Stiinta Baia Mare and new addition, fullback Marius Simionescu (20 yo, Timisoara Saracens)

Quite a good number of young players in the squad !

 

[amz]

Oaks squad (with updates)

Props:
Constantin Pristavita (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Alexandru Tarus (Sale Sharks)
Alexandru Gordas (CSA Steaua)
Andrei Ursache (Carcassonne)
Ionel Badiu (Carcassonne)

Hookers:
Ovidiu Cojocaru (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Otar Turashvili (Colomiers)
Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens)

Locks:
Valentin Poparlan (Timisoara Saracens)
Johannes Van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare)
Marius Antonescu (Colomiers)

Backrows
Viorel Lucaci (CSA Steaua)
Andrei Gorcioaia (Massy)
Vlad Nistor (Albi)
Mihai Macovei (Colomiers)
Andrei Iurea (Stiinta Baia Mare)

Halfbacks:
Florin Surugiu (CSA Steaua )
Tudorel Bratu (CS Dinamo)

Fly-halves:
Florin Vlaicu (CSA Steaua)
Samoa Luke (Stiinta Baia Mare)

Centers:
Marius Simionescu (Timisoara Saracens)
Florin Vladut Popa (Timisoara Saracens)
Paula Kinikinilau (CSM Bucuresti)
Sione Fakaosilea (Stiinta Baia Mare)

Wings:
Ionut Dumitru (CSA Steaua)
Jack Cobden (CSM Bucuresti)
Tangimana Fonovai (Timisoara Saracens)

Fullbacks:
Sabin Stratila (CSA Steaua)

Capatana (hooker, Timisoara) and Jack Umaga (utility back, Timisoara) were left home injured and ex-U20s Ovidiu Cojocaru (hooker, CSM Baia Mare) and Marius Simionescu (fullback, Timisoara) were called up.

JAPAN:

Props:
Takuma Asahara(Sunwolves)
Yu Chien(Toshiba Brave Lupus)
Shintaro Ishihara(Suntory Sungoliath)
Keita Inagaki(Sunwolves)
Heichiro Ito(Sunwolves)
Koki Yamamoto(Sunwolves)

Hookers:
Yusuke Niwai(Sunwolves)
Takeshi Hino(Sunwolves)
Shota Horie(Sunwolves)

Locks:
Kyosuke Kajikawa(Sunwolves)
Uwe Helu(Sunwolves)
Shinya Makabe(Sunwolves)
Kotaro Yatabe(Sunwolves)

Backrow:
Yoshitaka Tokunaga(Sunwolves)
Hendrik Tui(Reds)
Michael Leitch(Chiefs)
Amanaki Mafi(Rebels)
Shuhei Matsuhashi(Sunwolves)

Halfbacks:
Fumiaki Tanaka(Sunwolves)
Yutaka Nagare(Sunwolves)
Keisuke Uchida(Sunwolves)

Fly-halves:
Rikiya Matsuda(Panasonic Wild Knights)
Jumpei Ogura(Sunwolves)
Yu Tamura(Sunwolves)

Centers:
Harumichi Tatekawa(Sunwolves)
Derek Carpenter(Sunwolves)
Timothy Lafaele(Sunwolves)
Will Tupou(Sunwolves)

Wings:
Shota Emi(Sunwolves)
Kenki Fukuoka(Sunwolves)
Akihito Yamada(Panasonis Wild Knights)

Fullbacks:
Kotaro Matsushima(Sunwolves)
Ryuji Noguchi(Tokai University)

 

[amz]

Line-ups:

Brave Blossoms:

1-Koki Yamamoto (Sunwolves, 3 caps)
2-(c) Shota Horie (Sunwolves, 49 caps)
3-Takuma Asahara (Sunwolves, 5 caps)
4-Kotaro Yatabe (Sunwolves, 12 caps)
5-Uwe Helu (Sunwolves, 3 caps)
6-Michael Leitch (Chiefs, 47 caps)
7-Yoshitaka Tokunaga (Sunwolves, 4 caps)
8-Amanaki Lelei Mafi (Rebels, 13 caps)
9-Fumiaki Tanaka (Sunwolves, 58 caps)
10-Jumpei Ogura (Sunwolves, 2 caps)
11-Kenki Fukuoka (Sunwolves, 19 caps)
12-Derek Carpenter (Sunwolves, 0 cap)
13-Timothy Lafaele (Sunwolves, 4 caps)
14-Akihito Yamada (Panasonic Wild Knights, 21 caps)
15-Ryuji Noguchi (Tokai Univ., 8 caps)

Bench:

16-Yusuke Niwai (Sunwolves, 0 cap)
17-Keita Inagaki (Sunwolves, 13 caps)
18-Heiichiro Ito (Sunwolves, 4 caps)
19-Yuya Odo (Yamaha Jubilo, 2 caps)
20-Hendrik Tui (Reds, 38 caps) 21-Keisuke Uchida (Sunwolves, 21 caps)
22-Yu Tamura (Sunwolves, 42 caps)
23-Kotaro Matsushima (Sunwolves, 22 caps)

Oaks:

1-Ionel Badiu (Carcassonne, 7 caps)
2-Otar Turashvili (Colomiers, 33 caps)
3-Andrei Ursache (Carcassonne, 28 caps)
4-Johannes van Heerden (Stiinta Baia Mare, 21 caps)
5-Marius Antonescu (Colomiers, 22 caps)
6-Andrei Gorcioaia (Massy, 17 caps)
7-Viorel Lucaci (Steaua Bucuresti, 61 caps)
8-(c) Mihai Macovei (Colomiers, 72 caps)
9-Florin Surugiu (Steaua Bucuresti, 60 caps)
10-Florin Vlaicu (Steaua Bucuresti, 101 caps)
11-Jack Cobden (CSM Bucuresti, 1 cap)
12-Sione Fakaosilea (Stiinta Baia Mare, 2 caps)
13-Paula Kinikinilau (CSM Bucuresti, 11 cap)
14-Tangimana Fonovai (Timisoara Saracens, 3 caps)
15-Sabin Stratila (Steaua Bucuresti, 3 caps)

Bench:

16-Andrei Radoi (Timisoara Saracens, 61 caps)
17-Constantin Pristavita (Stiinta Baia Mare, 26 caps)
18-Alexandru Tarus (Sale Sharks, 21 caps)
19-Valentin Poparlan (Timisoara Saracens, 67 caps)
20-Vlad Nistor (Albi, 19 caps)
21-Tudorel Bratu (CS Dinamo Bucuresti, 7 caps)
22-Luke Samoa (Stiinta Baia Mare, 2 caps)
23-Ionut Dumitru (Steaua Bucuresti, 23 caps)

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Surprised that Tamura isnt starting at fly half for Japan and that his understudy with only two caps is. I can only assume he has a small injury or is resting for the Ireland contests. Same for Matsushima at 15 who is accomplished and young.

The inexperience at 10, 12, 13 & 15 might give Romania a chance. But they are all Sunwolves so these new players should still gel quickly.

Looks like Howells is going for his strongest XV, which would make sense?

Japan by 14 for me.

 

[Brigantine]

Maybe they don't want a *completely* different team each time they have an international match. Ogura's two caps were just recent - in April vs Korea.
Or maybe they just want to give him a run before they don't select him for Ireland.

When they play Korea one minute, and then Ireland the next...

Noguchi started in all 4 ARC games (though one was at wing). So it makes sense from that angle. His other 4 caps were also all at ARC level last season. It seems Japan see the Romania test partly as a development exercise.

The Sunwolves seem to have comparitively much better luck when they're actually playing in Japan. I'll be disappointed if they don't win by 15+ for the ranking point bonus, even with the rookie (at tier 2 level) 10 and 15.

I haven't followed Romanian rugby though, maybe I should be more worried by them given their recent win vs Georgia. Come to think of it, this match is the Reigning Asian Champion vs Reigning European Champion. Eurasian Championship Final!

 

[amz]

There are also players with few caps in Romanian squad and we miss some key players out injured as Lazar (Castres), V. Ursache (Oyonnax), Fercu (Timisoara). Stratila, 22 yo fullback played only coming from bench since now and only completed hist first full season at senior level this year.

I wouldn't consider Japanese 10 or 15 to be rookies. Keep in mind that they are exposed to Super Rugby with Sunwolves week in week out and this level is close of test level if not at the same level for some franchises.

Meanwhile, Romania didn't played a test vs T1, outside RWC, since 2006 and have small International experience against teams made from players who play in Super Rugby, if any. I think last game against a team made mostly of SR players was in at 2007 RWC vs ABs.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Maybe they don't want a *completely* different team each time they have an international match. Ogura's two caps were just recent - in April vs Korea.
Or maybe they just want to give him a run before they don't select him for Ireland.

When they play Korea one minute, and then Ireland the next...

Noguchi started in all 4 ARC games (though one was at wing). So it makes sense from that angle. His other 4 caps were also all at ARC level last season. It seems Japan see the Romania test partly as a development exercise.

The Sunwolves seem to have comparitively much better luck when they're actually playing in Japan. I'll be disappointed if they don't win by 15+ for the ranking point bonus, even with the rookie (at tier 2 level) 10 and 15.

I haven't followed Romanian rugby though, maybe I should be more worried by them given their recent win vs Georgia. Come to think of it, this match is the Reigning Asian Champion vs Reigning European Champion. Eurasian Championship Final!

The best players from two continents! The Sunwolves have been using a Kiwi and Tamura all year, so this 10 hasn't had much exposure. They did play completely new halfbacks as subs in their most recent SR game. They were only on for ten minutes but kicked ball well out of hand.

Really keen to see this and Romania's fullback but it is a 0640hrs kickoff UK time I think. Is this likely to appear on rugbytv.ro later in the day?

 

[amz]

The best players from two continents! The Sunwolves have been using a Kiwi and Tamura all year, so this 10 hasn't had much exposure. They did play completely new halfbacks as subs in their most recent SR game. They were only on for ten minutes but kicked ball well out of hand.

Really keen to see this and Romania's fullback but it is a 0640hrs kickoff UK time I think. Is this likely to appear on rugbytv.ro later in the day?

Not sure, since it is broadcasted by DolceSport and sometimes there are licensing issues, I don't expect to be on rugbytv.ro later the day...they don't use to upload Oaks matches played abroad.

Better prepare some coffee from evening or drink until 8:30 AM when match will likely end

We will be in the pub at 8 here

About Stratila, I know you follow Steaua and he played fullback a lot for them this season but in my opinion he isn't completely settled at this level although obviously is talented. I like more his little brother who plays backrow for Steaua as well.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I would be lying if I said Stratila had caught my eye. Hopefully he adapts to the international environment like Popa did.

You know you are a Tier 2 addict when you are considering getting up at half 6 to watch Romania vs Japan!