RUGBY IN JAPAN NEWSLETTER: Vol.10, No.22

Congratulations RIJ Newsletter 10th Anniversary 2003-2013

Ian McDonnell lives and works in Japan. He can be contacted at ianmcdo@apost.plala.or.jp

CONTENTS

• IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013

Now in its eighth year in 2013, the International Rugby Board (IRB) funded IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013 will involve the two island nations Fiji and Tonga along with Canada, the USA and Japan.

In 2006 this tournament kicked off as the IRB Pacific Five Nations and involved Fiji, Japan, the Junior All Blacks, Samoa and Tonga. Australia A joined the competition in 2007 and the tournament name changed to its present moniker of Pacific Nations Cup. The same format was maintained for 2008 with the exception being the New Zealand Maori were the New Zealand representative side rather than the Junior All Blacks.

In 2009, the Junior All Blacks replaced the New Zealand Maori as the New Zealand representative team, while Australia A did not participate. The 2009 tournament was condensed with the majority of the games played in Fiji rather than the home and away format of the three previous years. Also in 2009, ANZ (Australia and New Zealand Banking Group) came on board as the presenting sponsor for the tournament.

In 2010, Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga took part in the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010. Except for the opening game between Fiji and Japan at Churchill Park in Lautoka, Fiji, Samoa and the Samoan Rugby Union hosted the 2010 competition with the remaining five games played at Apia Park in the capital city of Apia. With the tournament again largely hosted in one country, refereeing and coaching workshops along with junior rugby clinics took place across the two week duration of the event. This was the first time for Samoa to host a major international 15-a-side rugby tournament and the occasion was a fillip for Samoa after the 2009 Samoa Earthquake, an 8.1M submarine earthquake and resulting tsunami struck the area on 29 September causing significant damage and loss of life across the region.

In 2011, the IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2011 was originally slated to be hosted in Japan. However, the magnitude 9.0 Great East Japan Earthquake that struck off the coast of north-eastern Japan on the afternoon of 11 March along with the resultant tsunami and nuclear accident at the Fukushima Number One Nuclear Power Plant changed everything. On 26 April 2011, the Japan Rugby Football Union announced that except for the opening game between Japan and Samoa on 2 July, the IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2011 would be moved from Japan to Fiji. As a result of the ongoing situation in Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake it was decided that the remaining five games would be played in Fiji. The JRFU made the decision in consultation with the International Rugby Board with Tatsuzo Yabe, chairman of the JRFU making the comment, “It is extremely unfortunate, but it cannot be helped.” On 9 May 2011, the IRB announced the revised schedule for the IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2011.

In 2012, the IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012 was hosted in Japan except for the final game between Tonga and Fiji that was played in Fiji. Samoa took the title for the second time winning all three games.

This year, the IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013 has been revamped with Samoa as the highest ranked Tier Two country in the IRB Rankings joining South Africa, Scotland and Italy in a quadrangular competition in South Africa in June while Canada and the USA will join the PNC for the first time to form a five-team tournament along with Japan, Tonga and Fiji

Previous Winners

2012: Samoa. Samoa took out the title for the second time in 2012 with three straight wins in the tournament held in Japan. Although Samoa could not manage any bonus points, 12 points from their three wins gave them the title ahead of Fiji on 10 points in second place with just the one loss to Samoa. Tonga finished third on 5 points from one win over Japan while Japan as the hosts finished last on four points with three losses on the trot in front of their home fans. It was not all doom and gloom for Japan as they gained a losing bonus point in all three games and had a few things gone differently for the new look side under new head coach Eddie Jones they could have won all three tests.

2011: Japan. After the New Zealand representative sides had won all four previous titles, Samoa etched their name on the trophy for the first time last year, but in 2011 a new name was engraved on the Cup with Japan taking the title for the first time. Japan left it till deep in injury time in the last game against Fiji to win the crown when they won 24-13 with a bonus point to deny Tonga in the process. Both Japan and Tonga finished on ten points but Japan took the title as they beat Tonga in their round match. Fiji finished third on 5 points while Samoa finished last on the same five points.

2010: Samoa. After the New Zealand representative sides had won all four previous titles, Samoa etched their name on the trophy for the first time. Samoa left it till the last game against Fiji to win the crown when they won 31-9 with a bonus point while denying Fiji any form of bonus point in the process. Both sides finished on nine points but Samoa took the title on a better points differential. Japan finished third on 8 points after picking up two wins for the first time while Tonga finished last on four points with three losses.

2009: The Junior All Blacks. The JAB again took the PNC title undefeated on 19 points. Fiji were runner-up on 14 points followed by Samoa on 12 points, while Japan finished fourth on 6 points with one win and three losses. Tonga took the wooden spoon on one point.

2008: The New Zealand Maori. The Maori took the PNC title undefeated with 21 points when they beat Australia A 21-18 in the final game in Sydney. Australia A finished runner-up on 20 points. Japan finished fifth on 7 points with one win and four losses.

2007: The Junior All Blacks. The JAB took the PNC title undefeated with 25 points garnering maximum points in each game. Australia A finished a distant runner-up on 16 points after they lost to the JAB and drew with Fiji. Japan finished last on 4 points with one win and four losses.

2006: The Junior All Blacks. The JAB took the P5N title undefeated with 20 points with maximum points in each game. Japan finished last on 0 points with four losses.

Pacific Nations Cup 2013 Schedule and Results

Date	Team	Score	Team	Kick-off	Venue	Referee
Saturday 25 May 2013	Japan	17-27	Tonga	14:10	Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium, Yokohama	Angus Gardner (AUS)
	Canada	16-9	USA	14:10	Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton	Francisco Pastrana (ARG)
Saturday 01 June 2013	Fiji	-	Japan	15:40	Churchill Park, Lautoka	TBC
Wednesday 05 June 2013	Canada	-	Fiji	18:40	Twin Elms Rugby Park, Nepean	TBC
Saturday 08 June 2013	Canada	-	Tonga	14:10	Richardson Stadium, Kingston	TBC
Saturday 15 June 2013	USA	-	Tonga	TBC	Rio Tinto Stadium, Salt Lake City	TBC
Wednesday 19 June 2013	Fiji	-	USA	17:10	Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, Nagoya	TBC
	Japan	-	Canada	19:10	Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, Nagoya	TBC
Sunday 23 June 2013	Tonga	-	Fiji	12:10	Chichibu, Tokyo	TBC
	Japan	-	USA	14:10	Chichibu, Tokyo	TBC

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013 Table

Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	BP1	BP2	Pts
Tonga	1	1	0	0	27	17	10	1	0	5
Canada	1	1	0	0	16	9	7	0	0	4
USA	1	0	0	1	9	19	-7	0	1	1
Japan	1	0	0	1	17	27	-10	0	0	0
Fiji	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Four points for win, two points for draw, one bonus point for scoring four tries or more (BP1) and one for losing by seven points or less (BP2).

Opening Weekend Preview and Wrap

Canada 16 d USA 9

Date: Saturday 25 May 2013
Venue: Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton
Kick-off: 14:10

North American rivals Canada and the USA face each other for the first time in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup at Ellerslie Rugby Park in Edmonton on Saturday 25 May 2013. This will be the forty0ninth meeting between these two sides with Canada holding the upper hand with 35 wins, including the last four in a row. Nevertheless, there is little between the two camps with Canada sitting in fourteenth place in the IRB World Rankings just ahead of the USA two spots back in sixteenth place. The recent string of victories together with home advantage may give the Canadians the confidence to get across the line but with Japan based Todd Clever leading the USA from the No8 position in his forty-sixth test the visitors will be no pushovers.

Canada made the most of their home ground knowledge to win 16-9 in a gruelling encounter over their North American rivals in the form of the USA in wet and windy Ellerslie Rugby Park in Edmonton on Saturday 25 May 2013. Canada’s flanker John Moonlight scored the only try in the test while fullback Conor Braid kicked the conversion and added three penalties to get his side across the winner’s line. The home side led 10-0 at halftime and although three penalties from fullback Adam Siddall helped the USA to win the latter half it was not enough at the end of the day. Clive Griffiths, Canada’s defensive coach under head coach Kieran Crowley said after the match, “A few of the boys hadn’t played for a while but we stuck to our guns and we’re delighted to get the win and prevent them from scoring.”

Tonga 27 d Japan 17

Tonga 27 – Tries: Fetu’u Vainikolo 2, Will Helu and Eddie Aholelei; Conversions: Fangatapu Apikotoa 2; Penalty: Fangatapu Apikotoa d.

Japan 17 – Tries: Takeshi Kizu, Male Sau and Hendrik Tui; Conversion: Ayumu Goromaru.

Competition: IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013.
Date: Saturday 25 May 2013.
Venue: Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium, Yokohama.

Japan Test Number: 287.

Japan Game Number: TBC.

Kick-off: 14:10 local time (05:10 GMT/UTC).
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia) (3^rd test). Assistant Referees: Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan) and James Leckie (Australia).
Conditions: Fine and sunny with forecast maximum for Yokohama 20 degrees Celsius. Surface firm, fast and well grassed.
Attendance: 5,598.

Halftime: Japan 5 – Tonga 22.

Yellow Card: Paula Kaho (Tonga No.8, 30 min 1H, repeated team infringements in collapsing a five metre lineout maul).
Match Points: Tonga 5, Japan 0.
Man of the Match: Nili Latu, Tonga No.7.

Head-to-head Encounters:

Japan and Tonga have met on fifteen occasions dating back to 1990. Japan have won seven and Tonga have won eight.

Although Japan won the inaugural meeting between these two nations in 1990, Tonga then won the two tests played in Japan in 1995. Japan and Tonga met twice in the Pacific Rim Championship in 1999 and 2000 for a win apiece. Tonga then won the next two encounters in Kumagaya in 2002 and the inaugural Pacific Nations Cup (Pacific Five Nations) clash in Fukuoka in 2006. However, Japan went on to win the next five tests in a row before Tonga won in Whangarei in September 2011 in their one and only Rugby World Cup meeting to date. Tonga continued the winning trend in Tokyo in 2012.

The highest scoring win for Japan was 44-17 in Tokyo in May 1999, while the biggest winning margin was 27 points in the same test. The longest winning sequence for Japan is five wins in a row between 2007 and 2011.

The highest scoring win for Tonga was 57-16 in Fukuoka in June 2006, while the biggest winning margin was 41 points in the same test. The longest winning sequence for Tonga is three wins in a row between 2000 and 2006 and again between 2011 and 2013.

Ten of the fifteen games have been played in Japan, with five of those at Chichibu in Tokyo while the other five tests have all been played on neutral territory and as yet no tests between these two countries have been played in Tonga.

Official test results for Japan against Tonga

No.	Date	Result (Home – Away)	Venue	Tournament	Japan Test No.	W/D/L (For Japan)
15	25 May 2013	Japan 17 – Tonga 27	Mitsuzawa Stadium, Yokohama	8th PNC	287	Lost
14	10 Jun 2012	Japan 20 – Tonga 24	Chichibu, Tokyo	7th PNC	279	Lost
13	21 Sep 2011	Tonga 31 – Japan 18	Northland Events Centre, Whangarei	7th RWC	272	Lost
12	09 Jul 2011	Japan 28 – Tonga 27	National Stadium, Suva	6th PNC	266	Won
11	26 Jun 2010	Japan 26 – Tonga 23	Apia Park, Apia	5th PNC	258	Won
10	27 Jun 2009	Japan 21 – Tonga 19	Churchill Park, Lautoka	4th PNC	248	Won
9	15 Jun 2008	Japan 35 – Tonga 17	Yurtec Stadium, Sendai	3rd PNC	236	Won
8	02 Jun 2007	Japan 20 – Tonga 17	Coffs Harbour	2nd PNC	222	Won
7	04 Jun 2006	Japan 16 – Tonga 57	Fukuoka	1st PNC	212	Lost
6	26 May 2002	Japan 29 – Tonga 41	Kumagaya		176	Lost
5	03 Jun 2000	Japan 25 – Tonga 26	Chichibu, Tokyo	5th PRC	164	Lost
4	08 May 1999	Japan 44 – Tonga 17	Chichibu, Tokyo	4th PRC	154	Won
3	19 Feb 1995	Japan 16 – Tonga 24	Chichibu, Tokyo		124	Lost
2	11 Feb 1995	Japan 16 – Tonga 47	Mizuho, Nagoya		123	Lost
1	08 Apr 1990	Japan 28 – Tonga 16	Chichibu, Tokyo	1991 RWC qualifier	103	Won

RWC = Rugby World Cup

PNC = Pacific Nations Cup (The PNC was known as the Pacific Five Nations in 2006 only)

PRC = Pacific Rim Championship (1996 to 2001)

Japan (IRB rank 15 (70.09), at 20 May 2013)

Pos.	Name (Test Player Number)	Club	DOB	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
1	Masataka MIKAMI (TBC)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	04/06/1988	24	178/113	4
2	Takeshi KIZU (534)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	15/07/1988	24	183/112	17
3	Hiroshi YAMASHITA (523)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	01/01/1986	27	183/120	20
4	Hitoshi ONO (445)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	06/05/1978	34	192/102	68
5	Shinya MAKABE (533)	Suntory Sungoliath	26/03/1987	26	192/110	14
6	Hendrik TUI (565)	Suntory Sungoliath	13/12/1987	25	189/100	9
7	Michael BROADHURST (566)	Ricoh Black Rams	30/10/1986	26	196/110	7
8	Takashi KIKUTANI (c) (474)	Toyota Verblitz	24/02/1980	33	187/100	58
9	Atsushi HIWASA (545)	Suntory Sungoliath	22/05/1987	25	166/71	22
10	Kosei ONO (492)	Suntory Sungoliath	17/04/1987	26	171/82	18
11	Hirotoki ONOZAWA (416)	Suntory Sungoliath	29/03/1978	35	180/85	79
12	Harumichi TATEKAWA (557)	Kubota Spears	02/12/1989	23	181/93	14
13	Male SAU (TBC)	Yamaha Jubilo	13/10/1987	25	183/98	4
14	Yoshikazu FUJITA (562)	Waseda University	08/09/1993	19	184/86	5
15	Ayumu GOROMARU (467)	Yamaha Jubilo	01/03/1986	27	185/96	24
16	Yusuke AOKI (490)	Suntory Sungoliath	19/06/1983	29	176/95	27
17	Takuma ASAHARA (TBC)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	07/09/1987	25	179/114	(4)
18	Kensuke HATAKEYAMA (515)	Suntory Sungoliath	02/08/1985	27	178/116	41
19	Shoji ITO (553)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	02/12/1980	32	191/100	12
20	Ryuta YASUI (TBC)	Kobe Steel Kobelco Steelers	06/12/1989	23	187/105	(1)
21	Keisuke UCHIDA (558)	Tsukuba University	22/02/1992	21	177/85	(3)
22	Yu TAMURA (555)	NEC Green Rockets	09/01/1989	24	181/88	8
23	Kenki FUKUOKA (TBC)	Tsukuba University	07/09/1992	20	175/83	3

Head Coach: Eddie Jones (AUS). (14^th test as head coach, for 10 wins and 4 losses)

Subs
16 subbed 2, 20 min 2H.
17 not used.
18 subbed 3, 20 min 2H.
19 subbed 5, 0 min 2H.
20 not used.
21 not used.
22 subbed 10, 10 min 2H.
23 subbed 11, 18 min 2H.

NB: The IRB announced a number of global law amendment trials to start on 1 September 2012 in the northern hemisphere and 1 January in the southern hemisphere. One of these amendments is to permit international teams to nominate up to eight replacements.

Tonga (IRB rank 11 (76.10), at 20 May 2013)

Pos.	Name	Club	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
1	Eddie AHOLELEI	Melbourne Rebels (AUS)	32	190/120	1
2	Elvis TAIONE	Jersey RFC	30	178/112	4
3	Taione VEA	North Harbour (NZL)	24	189/120	1
4	Josh AFU	Kamaishi Seawaves (JPN)	26	190/110	12
5	Emosi KAUHENGA	Ricoh Black Rams (JPN)	32	196/105	12
6	Hale T POLE	Southland (NZL)	34	190/109	18
7	Nili LATU (c)	NEC Green Rockets	31	180/101	25
8	Paula KAHO	Canberra Vikings (AUS)	29	192/107	6
9	Thomas PALU	Hurricanes Dv	26	180/85	7
10	Fangatapu APIKOTOA	Amatori Rugby Milano (ITA)	29	180/91	25
11	Will HELU	Manly (AUS)	27	190/89	12
12	Sione PIUKALA	USA Perpignan (FRA)	27	180/105	4
13	Siale PIUTAU	Yamaha Jubilo (JPN)	27	185/99	10
14	Fetu’u VAINIKOLO	Connacht (IRE)	28	180/95	8
15	Tevita HALAIFONUA	Fasi Ma’ufanga RC	25	189/85	3
16	Ilaisia MA’ASI	Iboss	31	178/96	15
17	Kama SAKALIA	Marist ‘Apifo’ou	27	183/114	2
18	Peni FAKALELU	Pau	28	185/122	(5)
19	Samisoni MASIMA	Sila Pelu Ua	27	190/123	N/A
20	Viliami FIHAKI	North Harbour (NZL)	26	189/100	1
21	Taniela MOA	Pau	27	178/97	13
22	Kurt MORATH	Kubota Spears (JPN)	28	186/85	17
23	Viliame IONGI	Marist	23	175/82	(15)

Head Coach: Mana ‘Otai (4^th test for 3 wins and 1 loss).

Subs
16 subbed 2, 31 min 2H.
17 subbed 1, 31 min 2H.
18 not used.
19 subbed 4, 23 min 2H.
20 subbed 8, 31 min 2H.
21 subbed 9, 7 min 2H.
22 subbed 10, 7 min 2H.
23 not used.

Sources:
Statistics for Japan and Tonga from RiJ database, IRB Match Preview and JRFU website.

In perfect conditions for rugby in the first ever rugby test match played at the Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium in Yokohama Japan played host to Tonga in the opening game of the expanded IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013.

Japan were kitted out in their now familiar strip of red and shirt jersey and black shorts while Tonga sported a white jersey with red flashes through the flanks, red shorts and white socks.

For Japan left wing Hirotoki Onozawa, this test brought him level on 79 tests with record holder in the form of centre Yukio Motoki as the most capped player for Japan.

Tonga got things underway with Japan fumbling the take to force the first scrum of the match on the Japan 22 metre line. Japan were penalised soon thereafter with Tonga turning down a relatively straightforward shot at goal for a lineout in an indication of how the visitors wanted to play the game. Unfortunately though, the throw was deemed to be not straight allowing Japan to clear their line.

Nevertheless, Tonga remained camped in the Japan half giving the ball plenty of air that led to the opening try of the game in the fifth minute to right wing Fetu’u Vainikolo in the right hand corner. The conversion attempt hit the uprights but Tonga still enjoyed an early 5-0 lead.

Following the restart Japan were penalised in their own half giving five-eighth Fangatapu Apikotoa his first attempt at penalty from 42 metres out but he failed to rise the flags.

However, with Japan finding the tough Tongan defence difficult to penetrate, turnover ball in the Japan danger zone led to Vainikolo crossing for his second five-pointer in the twelfth minute. This time, Apikotoa had no trouble with the kick pushing out the lead to 12-0.

After easy games in the Asian Five Nations the Japan side was having problems adjusting to the physicality of the islanders allowing Tonga to dominate the opening quarter of the test and at 12 points in arrears Japan had to be the next team to score. The opportunity presented itself with a five metre lineout in the 18^th minute but from the ensuing maul the Japan forwards were penalised for truck and trailer relieving the pressure on Tonga. However, Japan were starting to get their hands on more of the ball and from another five metre line out two minutes later on the right hand side of the field the rolling maul worked perfectly with big hooker Takeshi Kizu getting Japan on the board with the first team try. Fullback Ayumu Goromaru failed to convert from out wide but Japan were back in the game at 12-5 down.  

The good work was somewhat undone when Japan were again penalised at the breakdown letting Apikotoa slot his first penalty in the 23^rd minute to stretch the lead to 15-5. Slow ball in attack was making the Japanese runners easy targets for the Tongan defence as they were constantly caught behind the advantage line.

On the half hour mark, Japan again had the chance for points from another five metre lineout and although the points did not materialise Tongan No8 Paula Kaho was sinbinned for collapsing the maul. Despite the fact they were a man down, Tonga played their typical game keeping the pressure well and truly on Japan who were still looking to find their rhythm in attack. Loose, broken play led to the third try with flanker and captain Nili Latu chipping in behind the defence for left wing Will Helu to dot down in the left hand corner in the 36^th minute and Apikotoa made it look easy converting the try from the sideline to widen the gap to 22-5 in the shadows of halftime.

The teams eventually went to the break with the score unchanged with Tonga enjoying the better of the spoils in the opening stanza. To take the game Japan had to take the game to the Tongans creating doubt in their game as the ever increasing confidence could spell trouble in the second period. To do this Japan had to come to terms with the physical approach of the islanders, speed up the game and run them around.

Japan indeed upped the ante in attack from the outset of the second half with centre Male Sau crossing for the second Japanese try in the opening minute. Goromaru hit the upright with his conversion attempt leaving the score at 22-10.

Dominance at the breakdown and with the Japanese defence on its heels, loosehead prop Eddie Aholelei lurking out on the left wing crossed for the bonus point try for Tonga in the fourth minute and although the conversion was unsuccessful Japan were again chasing the game from 27-10 behind.

As in the first half, failure to get across the gain line in attack was hurting Japan as Tonga continued to dictate terms in both attack and defence. The streetwise tactics of international veterans like Latu, Hale T Pole and Emosi Kauhenga up front were leading the younger Tongan forwards to step up and maintain the intimidation on their Japanese counterparts.

However, the locals were not about to bow out without a fight with flanker Hendrik Tui crashing over for the third Japanese try in the 62^nd minute with Goromaru this time adding the extras to narrow the difference to 27-17.

Japan were being out-muscled and out-played and with time starting to run out on the clock as the game crept into the final ten minutes of play the ten point deficit was beginning to look like a mountain. Latu was named the man of the match as the Tongan captain who plays his club rugby with NEC in Japan lead from the front as he battled away in the tight.

Flankers Michael Broadhurst and Hendrik Tui in the forwards and rookie wing Yoshikazu Fujita stood up in a well beaten Japan side that just could not match it with the commitment and physicality of the Tongans who deserved their 27-17 bonus point away win over Japan.

On the ground after the match, stand-in captain Takashi Kikutani said, “We were slow in the first half and gave away some easy tries, but now we have to look ahead to Fiji.”

Tongan captain Nili Latu said, “We only had two days to prepare for Japan but a great win and a great start. Our aim is to win this tournament.”

Japan forwards tough it out against Tonga. (Courtesy JRFU RJP H. Nagaoka)