Tag Archives: japan rugby

At halftime in Tokyo, South Africa lead Japan 5-3 in what has been an incredible opening half of rugby.  South Africa got off to a brilliant start when a strong scrum allowed Makazole Mapimpi to collect the ball on the wing as he easily got by Yu Tamura to score a try in the corner. Initially, it looked like the …

Four years ago Japan shocked the world by defeating South Africa at the Rugby World Cup in Brighton.  That 34-32 victory over the Springboks put Japanese rugby on the map and since then the nation has been on an upward trajectory when it comes to Rugby Union. Michael Leitch led the Cherry Blossoms to that victory over South Africa four …

Japan head coach Jamie Joseph began his post-match press conference by paying tribute to those who lost their lives as a result of destructive Typhoon Hagibis.  The Typhoon has caused significant damage to Japan over the weekend and three matches at the Rugby World Cup were cancelled as a result. Japan’s clash with Scotland was allowed to go ahead thanks …

The quarter-final makeup of the 2019 Rugby World Cup is now confirmed after Japan’s sensational 28-21 victory over Scotland at the Yokohama Stadium.  Scotland took a 7-0 lead through a Finn Russell try but Japan dominated possession (79%) for the remainder of the half as they ran in three scintillating tries from Kotaro Matsushima, Keita Inagaki and Kenki Fukuoka to …

The IRFU have hit back at claims by Sunday Times columnist Stephen Jones that Ireland and New Zealand were “vehemently opposed” to the possibility that the Pool A clash between Scotland and Japan could be rearranged.  Prior to the confirmation that today’s game would go ahead as scheduled, Scotland have been putting pressure on World Rugby to rearrange the game …

World Rugby have confirmed that the final Pool A clash between Scotland & Japan will go ahead on Sunday (11.45 am UK & Ireland time) as scheduled.  Typhoon Hagibis has left 19 people dead, 16 people missing and more than 100 people injured according to the latest figures from Kyodo News. The destructive weather event as already played havoc with …

Jamie Joseph believes his Japan side deserve more credit than they have so far received for their Rugby World Cup exploits.  Japan currently sit atop Pool A with three wins from three test matches, however, their final group game against Scotland is under threat due to the impending Typhoon Hagabis. If the game was to be cancelled (like two others …

There are just two matches remaining in Pool A of the 2019 Rugby World Cup with Ireland, Scotland and Japan all still within a shout of qualifying for the knockout stages.  Japan’s bonus-point victory over Samoa on Saturday has seen them go on top of Pool A with 14 points after three games played. Ireland are on 11 points with …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for Cian Healy in the aftermath of Ireland’s loss Japan on Saturday.  The powerful loosehead prop cut a downcast figure as he walked through a packed media mixed zone amid journalists probing with questions about Ireland’s shock defeat. But as ever, Healy spoke incredibly well despite the downbeat circumstances …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka.  Japan head coach Jamie Joseph told a packed media room in the bowels of the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa that his side had plenty of belief that they could shock the rugby world by beating Ireland. Japan produced a marvellous performance as they claimed an astonishing 19-12 victory and it could have been more if Keith …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka.  For as long as Joe Schmidt has been the head coach of Ireland, this has been a side which has placed discipline at the very top of the list of prerequisites for any performance.  In the build-up to Ireland’s 19-12 loss to Japan at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa on Saturday evening, the role of Australian …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa.  Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt cut a downcast figure when he spoke to the media in the aftermath of his side’s 19-12 loss to Japan.  Ireland, after the opening 25 minutes of this game, were shambolic and they completely lacked the control and penetration which was evident in the opening quarter of the …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt confirmed in his post-match interview that Jack Conan is departing from the Rugby World Cup.  Conan was originally pencilled in to feature in today’s historic 19-12 loss to Japan but a foot injury sustained in training ruled him out of the Pool A clash. However, with Jordi Murphy …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa.  Ireland have succumbed to one of the great World Cup shocks as they fell to a 19-12 defeat to Japan at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa tonight.  Ireland dominated the opening 25 minutes where they got two tries through Garry Ringrose and Rob Kearney but from then on in, Ireland were second-best in every …

Sean McMahon reporting from Hamamatsu.  Ireland coach Greg Feek has rejected the criticism coming from the Japanese camp on his side’s scrum as the two teams prepare for battle on the eve of their clash at the Shizouka Stadium Ecopa.  One the narratives which has dominated proceedings throughout the week has been the criticism of the Irish scrum with Japan …

Sean McMahon reporting from the Shizouka Stadium Ecopa.  Ireland held their captain’s run and eve of match media conference at the Shizouka Stadium Ecopa and scrum coach, Greg Feek, provided an update on the fitness of Jack Conan.  Conan was originally pencilled in to feature in Saturday’s Pool A clash with Japan but a foot injury, caused by someone stepping …

Sean McMahon reporting from Hamamatsu.  The Japanese press conferences this week have been a breath of fresh air.  The players and coaches have made no secret about the fact that they know they can beat Ireland this weekend. From straight to the point statements such as “we are confident that we can beat them” and “we’ll attack that” or the …

Sean McMahon reporting from Shizouka.  Head coach Joe Schmidt has named the Ireland team which will take on Japan in Saturday’s Pool A clash at the Shizouka Stadium Ecopa.  Schmidt has made a number of changes to the side which beat Scotland 27-3 in Yokohama on Sunday. In total, Schmidt has made four changes to the starting XV which defeated …