Japan and Tonga first time in a Rugby World Cup match to meet .Both are confident they can win their third Pool A clash on Wednesday at Northland Events Centre after going down in their first two matches at Rugby World Cup 2011.
Tonga, lost their first game for the All Blacks 41-10 and 25-20 for Canada, while Japan dropped from 47 to 21 for France and the All Blacks 83-7. But the two have targeted this match as a win.
Japan has only won one match in the history of RWC, a 52-8 victory over Zimbabwe in 1991.
“Each of us has lost its first two games, so the game will be crucial for both sides. It will be the final World Cup for us,” said coach John Kirwan’s Japan, whose main goal is to beat Tonga and Canada, so the team can become the third pool and automatically receive a RWC in 2015.
Tonga has done slightly better, winning 19 games four RWC, but we were disappointed in Canada come from behind victory last week in Whangarei.
Tonga fly half Kurt Morath said: “I think this is the beginning of our Rugby World Cup after what happened last Wednesday when we get up against Japan and then go into the last game against France we want to do. great. ”
Ringing the changes
Both teams rang the changes for this game. Tonga has made eight changes in the starting XV that lost to Canada, while Japan’s hand was forced to injury.
Kirwan has brought 13 of the first team, who impressed against France in Japan RWC opens Sept. 10, less injured number eight Ryukoliniashi Holan Koji Taira and the center, who injured his left hamstring during his All Blacks defeat.
Of the 13 new half James Arlidge to fly, who was named Man of the Match against France after scoring 21 points in Japan.
“We plan for this, so our confidence is very high, we know that we have a good game,” says Arlidge. “But our guys are relaxed and confident, a little ‘nervous, but that’s what I expected.”
Different styles
It could be an exhibition of two different styles of rugby. Tonga, one of the biggest teams in the competition for height and weight and with a strong accent from the front, matched against a team easier, faster in Japan.
The two teams last met in the Pacific Nations Cup in July, in Japan, prevailing 28-27 on the road to win four keys of the competition for the first time.
“I think you will see two styles of Wednesday night, they will try to impose their style on us and we will try to apply our style on them,” said Kirwan.
“We played each other a lot, we know the PNC, so let’s wait for the Tongans to be very aggressive and very physical and we just have to cut this with the way we played.”
But the wing Itaru Taniguchi said Japanese players were ready to take the game to change.
“We’re not just trying to stop them, we will retaliate,” he said. “My feeling is that they think the Japanese players will stay there and take it, so imagine how they would be surprised if it was right for them.”
A couple of players on each side will have insider knowledge. Japan and Sione Taufa Toetuu Vatuvei was born in Tonga, while two of the team to play Tonga in Japan – Viliami Ma’afu (Mitsubishi Juko Sagamihara RC) and Alaska Taufa (Akita).
“I know a lot about the Japanese team,” said Ma’afu. “I like to play fast rugby. The last time we played them in Fiji, who played a quick game, so you are tired. I hope some of that again.”
Match time: 21 September 2011 – 19:30, Northland Events Centre, Whangarei
