Q&A with James Haskell

[TRF_Olyy]

With the Japanese Top League gaining more prominence world wide, TRF were lucky enough to put your questions to James Haskell. The England backrower is currently playing in Japan for the Ricoh Black Rams.

(Osulli Mi) What led you to pursue a rugby career in Japan?
I had always dreamed of playing in the Super 15, but their season starts much later than ours over in the UK. So when I agreed to pay for the Highlanders in NZ I had 4 months to fill. I had enjoyed playing in France and having an adventure away from home. Leon, my old coach at wasps, contacted me about a short stint over in Japan. I leapt at the chance, as I have always wanted to experience Asia.

(Draggs) Have friends/fellow players expressed an interest in following you to Japan since you decided to go?
I think, like my move to France, it was pretty unheard of for a young player, and a current international to move across to a different league from the premiership. Since doing that a lot of guys have followed in my footsteps and will no doubt do so in Japan. From what I hear lots of guys are putting their CV's forward.

(Draggs) How is the professional rugby system different in Japan than England and France?
It's very different over here as most clubs only have about 10 full time pros, while the rest are employees of the company they play for. Ricoh is my team, but other guys at clubs like Toshiba, work for Toshiba, Toyota for Toyota etc. This means there is a fairly mixed level, but all the training is conducted as if you were at any premiership club. In fact the general standard is very high in terms of core skills like catching and passing. There are many more drop balls down in training with Stade Francais, than there ever are here in japan.

(Draggs) With the Top League gaining interest abroad through players, such as yourself, joining it, do you think we will see more Japanese players in Europe/Super Rugby?
I think that, if the game is to develop in Japan, and the Japan national team are to advance, then more players need to get abroad and gain experience. Every team in the Top League has 6 foreign guys, these are normally ex internationals from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. That means that there is still contact with more experienced players, and things rub off. But they do need to get across to Europe for sure. Some of the Japanese coaching methods and mentalities are a bit behind the times. Coaches and players need exposure to different leagues to get better.

(Feicarsinn) Do you think the longer off season in the Japanese domestic season has a detrimental effect on the national team or does it really make a difference?
I am not sure it has any effect on the national Team, but I would say that an overly long pre-season, in my opinion, is pretty pointless. You need to get the balance right between preparation, and being in the best shape to last the full league programme. Guys need time off after the last game, but perhaps 3 months max to prepare and get ready to play.

(Feicarsinn) How hard has it been adjusting to Japanese culture?
I have been very lucky to have been looked after tremendously well by all the people at Ricoh, including their two amazing translators, who can fix any problems you could have. The language barrier is very difficult, as Japanese is not based on a Latin language, so nothing is familiar, like French, Spanish and English are, to some degree. If I had come from the UK, straight to Japan, it may have been harder than it was. But luckily I had 2 years in France that taught me to just immerse yourself in everything, forget what you know and just go with the flow.

(Psychic Duck) How do you think the top Japanese teams would do if they played in the Premiership or Top 14?
I think the top four teams could fend pretty well for themselves. I think the telling factor would be the size and physicality. You can't fault the desire, commitment and passion over here, but 80mins against a premiership team and I think it would be too dramatic a difference. It would be great for the players to see how the other half do it, though.

(Snoopy Snoopy Dog Dog) It's often said that there's a difference in skill levels between the Sanzar and 6 Nations countries with our southern hemisphere counterparts more comfortable playing expansive rugby. As somebody who has played the game at club level in Europe, Japan and soon in the Super XV, you'll be better qualified to speak on it than most. Do you think this implied criticism of 6 Nations rugby is correct and if so, what can be done to address it?
I think a lot of the criticisms are unfair, but there is a large difference in mentality. This normally comes from the coaches involved in the game and what happens at lower levels. I think a lot of Northern Hemisphere teams are over coached.For example in NZ, Australia the focus, when you are younger, is always to play touch, even senior guys for the All Blacks will go and par take in tournaments. Benji Marshall, the Wests Tigers RL player, still goes back every year to play. This focus on playing touch, moving the ball and developing your skill set starts at a young age, and is very different from the academy conveyer belt that I, and others, came off. With the focus being on size, power etc.

(Snoopy Snoopy Dog Dog) Do you think a team benefits from picking a specialist openside flanker or should the best three backrowers be picked regardless of position?
I think the days of an A Typical open side flanker are coming to an end. What you want these days is a hybrid that has all the abilities at the breakdown, but can act as a ball carrier as well. Guys like Richie McCaw have shown that a 7 who just chases after the 10, or who focuses on charge downs is not really required. It's about getting the balance of the back row right, with hopefully each player having a skill set that can retrieve ball from the breakdown, but more importantly cost opposition numbers each time, as well as being able to carry the ball, and jump in the line out.

(GingerGenius) With your adventurous career options, would you ever consider a stint in Rugby League?
I have a lot of respect for rugby league, especially watching it played in NZ and Australia. However I haven't really considered a move, but never say never.

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[Feicarsinn]

Good stuff, seems like a pretty intelligent guy. I had no idea that there aren't fully pro teams in the Top League. That'd want to change soon if Japanese rugby is to progress.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Great to read somebody who's still involved in the game forward intelligent comments rather than give safe, inoffensive answers so as not to offend everyone.

I too never realised that the Top League is a mix between pro and amateur players, even in the same team. His comments that coaching in Japan needs to improve will hopefully be heeded if the Cherry Blossoms are to be competitive at the 2015 and especially the 2019 World Cup. In not so many words he said the league is quite a low standard which is to be expected.

His reference to young players being over coached in the Europe are telling since he's not alone in sharing that view. Brian Ashton said as much in an article a few weeks ago regarding English clubs failure in the Heineken Cup. It's well worth a read. While that article criticises the English approach, it reads just as true for the approach in Ireland (and I'm sure it rings at least partially true in Scotland, France, Wales and Italy too). Eddie O'Sullivan in particular was another who emphasised defence, set pieces, winning the kicking duel and bossing collisions above passing, creativity and showing any attacking flair. Declan Kidney has followed that train of thought. Is it any wonder that Joe Schmidt of Leinster is revered for building a successful, attack minded team instead of relying on a 10 man game? Schmidt of course is a Kiwi and wasn't brought up in the suffocating coaching environment which exists in this part of the world.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Eddie O'Sullivan in particular was another who emphasised defence, set pieces, winning the kicking duel and bossing collisions above passing, creativity and showing any attacking flair. Declan Kidney has followed that train of thought. Is it any wonder that Joe Schmidt of Leinster is revered for building a successful, attack minded team instead of relying on a 10 man game? Schmidt of course is a Kiwi and wasn't brought up in the suffocating coaching environment which exists in this part of the world.

I take issue with this. We scored 233 tries in the 6 years O'Sullivan managed. That's three tries a game. Contrast that to the 91 we've managed in four years under Kidney and it think that it becomes pretty clear that they're not the same type of coach. O'Sullivan had his failings, but Ireland actually played some pretty nice rugby under him.


Sorry for the OT.

 

[Robert Prosser]

I enjoyed that and its good to know that the training in Japan is top notch a shame they are not all professional but that will come with time especially by the time the RWX gets over there they should be up and running tidy then possible with a good few players playing in europe etc.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

@Feicarsinn
O'Sullivan said it himself.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

To echo all of the above, I too was surprised to see that the Top League wasn't fully pro.
I presumed that, due to the money offered to the top players, that the whole thing would be pro.

 

[Hinato]

In top league, only foreigners areJapanese and international pros.The others are in fact employees.And you can have clubs fire fighters, police,military,etc...
I already explained.We are in the Japanese model where clubs are not representative of cooperatives and cities at home.The Japanese built their model lives around their work instead of us.When at home, we go once the day is over and do our business out side the company,the Japanese themselves,are now activities such as sport, for example(and rugby in particular).But here may be something else.This model is a different life.
You should know that Japanese youth are recruited from universities after their fourth university season.
An example with the Red Hurricanes have started recruiting for next season: http://www.japonrugby.net/cinq-jeunes-recrues-chez-les-ntt-docomo-red-hurricanes.php

 

[cyRil]

That was really interesting! Don't think much of the Rams' kit mind.... =/

 

[Draggs]

Really good to hear from James. Three questions from me as well, I feel like bloody Parkinson!
Appreciate him taking the time, and it certainly helped to shed to light on the Top League.
Please pass on my thanks.