Tag Archives: japan

Hosts Japan scored their first try of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in style as a beautiful offload from Timothy Lafaele set up Kotaro Matsushima to cross the line. Japan had found themselves behind against Russia early in the game when their full-back William Tupuo failed to take a high ball and Kirill Golosnitskiy followed in to score the tournament’s …

The IRFU have confirmed that Keith Earls will travel to Japan as part of the World Cup squad despite injury concerns following Saturday’s win over Wales in the Aviva Stadium. The Munster winger was accompanied off the pitch by a member of the medical staff in the second half of the 19-10 victory. Earls took his place on the bench …

With the final countdown to this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan well underway, organisers are focusing their efforts on contingency planning in the notoriously earthquake and typhoon-prone country, said the tournament director, Alan Gilpin. On the pitch, Gilpin predicted the 2019 edition of rugby’s showpiece would be the “most competitive ever” with a narrowing gap between the top 15 …

South Africa will play 2019 Rugby World Cup hosts Japan in Saitama on September 6 in their final warm-up match for the tournament, the national rugby union announced Monday. Japan caused one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history when they stunned South Africa 34-32 at the pool stage in England three years ago. “This is an ideal opportunity …

An unprecedented match-up between boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr and a Japanese kickboxer half his age is back on, according to the Japanese promoter behind the fight. The bout between Mayweather and Tenshin Nasukawa, first announced earlier this month, was abruptly scrapped by the American boxer shortly after he revealed his plans to take on the kickboxer. But on Friday, …

England head coach, Eddie Jones, has made 11 changes to his side that narrowly lost out to New Zealand last weekend, including the introduction of debutant, Joe Cokanasiga. The Bath winger will feature alongside Chris Ashton and Elliot Daly in the backline while Jack Nowell Alex Lozowski are named as the centre pairing. George Ford will captain the side from outhalf on …

All Blacks legend Dan Carter has tipped Japan to reach the knockout stages of their home World Cup next year — and warned favourites New Zealand will not have it all their own way. The 36-year-old fly-half, who confirmed his stint in Japan would bring down the curtain on his glittering career, said the Brave Blossoms were capable of reaching …

Fly-half Richie Mo’unga boosted his World Cup hopes as he sparked a second-string All Blacks side to a 69-31 victory over Japan in Tokyo. Mo’unga scored a try and went eight-from-nine with the boot in a sparkling 22-point display for the visitors, who ran in 10 tries against the 2019 World Cup hosts. Ngani Laumape bagged a hat-trick of tries …

Japan head coach Jamie Joseph is set to relinquish control of Super Rugby’s Sunwolves to concentrate on the host team’s run-in to the 2019 World Cup. As events took place across Japan on Thursday to mark a year to go before the “Brave Blossoms” face Russia in the tournament’s opening game, Joseph revealed he would step down as Sunwolves coach …

The All Blacks retained two of their top young talents on Monday when Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett agreed to stay with the world champions for their Rugby World Cup defence in Japan next year. New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said Savea and Barrett signed contract extensions with the All Blacks and Wellington Hurricanes Super Rugby team until the end of …

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez said he was deeply proud after his team hit back from 2-0 down to beat Japan and claim a place in the World Cup quarter-finals. Substitute Nacer Chadli slotted home in the fourth minute of injury time to complete a memorable comeback and seal a 3-2 win in the last-16 match in Rostov-on-Don. Belgium were stunned …

Nacer Chadli was the hero for Belgium as Roberto Martinez’s side came from 2-0 down to knock Japan out of the World Cup. The European side, strong favourites for this clash, found themselves 2-0 down early in the second half through goals from Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui. Belgium had been pedestrian up to that point were now suddenly starting defeat …

Japan coach Akira Nishino said he was “forced” to tell his players to down tools towards the end of their World Cup match against Poland, to secure last 16 qualification. With 10 minutes to go Japan were losing 1-0, but with Colombia leading Senegal by the same scoreline in the other simultaneous Group H tie it meant Japan would qualify …

Senegal’s World Cup campaign came to an end in cruel fashion on Thursday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in Samara. Aliou Cisse’s side started the day in one of the two knockout spots, and started the brighter of the two sides as they looked to top the group, but Yerry Mina’s late winner consigned them to …

The World Cup is on the verge of moving into the last 16 phase, with the number of teams remaining in the competition to be cut in half. The latest round of matches has seen Poland unceremoniously dumped out, Argentina come perilously close to joining them on the plane home, and Germany strike late against Sweden to rescue their tournament. …

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse told star man Sadio Mane to step up at the World Cup even though the Liverpool forward got on the scoresheet in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Japan on Sunday. Substitute Keisuke Honda equalised with 12 minutes left as Japan twice pegged back Senegal in a captivating stalemate at Yekaterinburg Arena that leaves Group H wide …

The final, and arguably most open, group of the 2018 World Cup kicked off on Tuesday – and it already looks like a four-way battle is underway. Colombia and Poland were touted as the favourites to qualify for the knockout stages, Japan and Senegal have other ideas. Between the two matches, picking a winner from this group is now a …