ASIA RUGBY CHAMP: Top 3 HONG KONG v JAPAN

02.05.2015

Venue: Tokyo

Referee: Norman Drake (UAE)

Preview
When you look at the opposition both sides has faced over the past year, Japan has a far more extensive world test programme than Hong Kong. Hong Kong has played two tests against Russia last November as they continually seek international opposition. But in terms of who you are facing on the international stage Japan is way above their Asian neighbour.

In recent encounters Hong Kong has always struggled in Tokyo and I can’t see Hong Kong getting near their hosts.

Other Previews
http://www.hkrugby.com/eng/news/4794.php
http://www.japonrugby.net/le-xv-japonais-face-a-hong-kong-2015.php (in French)

Last Five Encounters
25.05.2014 Japan 49-8 in Tokyo (WCQ Asia; Asia 5 Nations)
27.04.2013 Japan 38-0 in Hong Kong (WCQ Asia; Asia 5 Nations)
19.05.2012 Japan 67-0 in Tokyo (Asia 5 Nations)
30.04.2011 Japan 48-22 in Hong Kong (Asia 5 Nations)
22.05.2010 Japan 94-5 in Tokyo (WCQ Asia R2; Asia 5 Nations)

Hong Kong last defeated Japan in 1998, winning 17-16 in Tokyo in a Pacific Rim Championship test match. Hong Kong actually won four games against Japan in the period 1996-1998 during the Pacific Rim competition.

Japan Last Five P 5, W 4, L 1
18.04.2015 v Korea W 56-30 in Incheon (ARC Top 3)
23.11.2014 v Georgia L 24-35 in Tbilisi
15.11.2014 v Romania W 18-13 in Bucharest
21.06.2014 v Italy W 26-23 in Tokyo
14.06.2014 v USA W 37-29 in Halawa

Hong Kong Last Five P 5, W 1, L 4
25.04.2015 v Korea L 26-33 in Hong Kong (ARC Top 3)
15.11.2014 v Russia L 27-39 in Hong Kong (Ustinov Cup, 2nd test)
08.11.2014 v Russia L 10-31 in Hong Kong (Ustinov Cup, 1st test)
25.05.2014 v Japan L 8-49 in Tokyo (WCA Asia; Asia 5 Nations)
10.05.2014 v Korea W 39-6 in Hong Kong (WCA Asia; Asia 5 Nations)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Japan 13th, Hong Kong 23rd
Asia Table: Japan 1st, Hong Kong 3rd

World Rugby Ranking Points
Japan 74.70, Hong Kong 54.64

Prediction: Japan by 44 points.

TEAMS

Hong Kong

1 WEI Hon Sum Leon (Valley)
2 Alex HARRIS (Kowloon)
3 Jack PARFITT (HKS)
4 Adam BUTTERFIELD (HKFC)
5 Paul DWYER (HKCC)
6 Matthew LAMMING (HKCC)
7 Toby FENN (Valley)
8 Nicholas HEWSON (Valley)
9 LEE Ka To Cado (Kowloon)
10 Ben RIMENE (Valley)
11 Charlie HIGSON-SMITH (HKFC)
12 Max WOODWARD (Valley)
13 Jamie HOOD (HKFC)
14 Tom MCQUEEN (HKCC)
15 Alex MCQUEEN (HKCC)

Replacements
16 John AIKMAN (HKS)
17 Lachlan CHUBB (HKS)
18 Jack NIELSEN (HKCC)
19 Alex BADDELEY (Valley)
20 Damian BAILEY (HKCC)
21 Adam ROLSTON (Valley)
22 Jonny REES (HKFC)
23 Niall ROWARK (HKFC)
24 Jack DELAFORCE (HKCC)

Head Coach: Andy Hall

Adapted from http://www.hkrugby.com/eng/news/4794.php

Japan

1-Masataka Mikami (Toshiba Brave Lupus, 24 caps) 
2-Takeshi Kizu (Kobelco Steelers, 31 caps) 
3-Kensuke Hatakeyama, Capt. (Suntory Sungoliath, 61 caps) 
4-Luke Thompson (Kintetsu Liners, 50 caps) 
5-Shoji Ito (Kobelco Steelers, 29 caps) 
6-Justin Ives (Canon Eagles, 24 caps) 
7-Tsuyoshi Murata (NEC Green Rockets, un cap) 
8-Ryu Koliniasi Holani (Panasonic Wild Knights, 36 caps) 
9-Atsushi Hiwasa (Suntory Sungoliath, 39 caps) 
10-Harumichi Tatekawa (Kubota Spears, 29 caps) 
11-Akihito Yamada (Panasonic Wild Knights, 10 caps) 
12-Yu Tamura (NEC Green Rockets, 27 caps) 
13-Karne Hesketh (Munakata Sanix Blues, 3 caps) 
14-Chihito Matsui (Doshisha Univ., un cap) 
15-Ayumu Goromaru (Yamaha Jubilo, 44 caps)

Remplaçants:

16-Yusuke Nagae (Toyota Industries Shuttles, 17 caps) 
17-Ryuhei Arita (Coca-Cola Red Sparks, 7 caps) 
18-Shinnosuke Kakinaga (Suntory Sungoliath, un cap) 
19-Kazuhiko Usami (Canon Eagles, un cap) 
20-Hayden Hopgood ( ? , 4 caps) 
21-Keisuke Uchida (Panasonic Wild Knights, 9 caps) 
22-Toshiaki Hirose (Toshiba Brave Lupus, 24 caps) 
23-Yoshikazu Fujita (Waseda Univ., 19 caps)

Head Coach: Eddie Jones

Adapted from http://www.japonrugby.net/le-xv-japonais-face-a-hong-kong-2015.php