Leach, Matsuda, and a new star threat… The “three pillars” of Japan’s national rugby team will be in action against England!
Rugby World Cup France Special Report Japan defeated Chile in their first match by 6 tries! Next, they will take on a strong team that has "lost all their previous games"!
We did well to win a difficult first game, and with the bonus point awarded for scoring four or more tries, we are in good shape to challenge England, who are ranked sixth in the world and are a grade above us,” said sports writer Mitsunobu Naoe.
The Rugby World Cup started on September 9 (Japan Standard Time). Japan clashed with the Chilean team in their first match on September 10. Although Japan allowed the Chileans to take the lead in the first six minutes, they eventually scored six tries and won 42-12.
Rikiya Matsuda (29), standoff, and Leach Michael (34), flanker, contributed greatly to the victory over Chile. Naoe, the former captain, continued, “Matsuda is a very good kicker.
Matsuda showed great accuracy in his kicking. His goal kicking success rate is 100%. In the test match before the tournament, he missed a lot of shots, but he has set his sights on the big game.
Leach was always involved with his opponents on the defensive side of the field to nip attacks in the bud. We could see his strong spirit, and he showed an abundance of athleticism as if he had been rejuvenated.
The next game against England on March 18 will be a big game in which a win will bring the team closer to advancing out of the group phase. They are a difficult opponent, having lost all 10 of their previous games. Sportswriter Fumiya Mukai said, “In the test match in November last year, they lost 52 games.
In a test match last November, they were soundly defeated 52-13. The main reasons for the defeat were that they could not handle the height of the opponents in high-ball competitions and lost the ball, and that they were pushed in at the scrum. If we can address these issues, we should be able to compete well.”
The key player for England will be 21-year-old rising star Warner Deans.
His best weapon is his world-class size (201 cm). He will use his height to make his presence felt in the lineout. He may look thin at first glance, but he weighs 117 kg and will contribute to the scrum as a lock. He was injured in the match against Chile, but he scored a try at the end of the game and is getting better,” said Naoe.
England’s heavy and strong frontline pushes their opponents, with standoff George Ford (30) scoring a penalty goal.
The key to not allowing the opponent to push the ball into the box is for the standoffs, such as Matsuda, to kick the ball accurately deep into the opponent’s territory, and for the front line players, such as Dianes and Leach, to put their bodies on the line to keep the opposing FWs out in front of them. It is important to play as long as possible in enemy territory.
If the three pillars of the team can run riot on the field, they will be able to achieve their long-held goal of defeating England and breaking through to the last eight.
From the September 29, 2023 issue of FRIDAY
PHOTO： Kaori Matsumoto (Leach) Sankei Shimbun (Matsuda and Dianes)
