Japan ready for physical Samoa
TOKYO (May 29) – Japan head coach Eddie Jones said Thursday his team was more worried about their own performance than what Samoa would bring to Friday night’s game at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.
However, he did concede that the visitors would be looking to play their traditional power-based game.
“The big thing is the first 20 minutes,” he said. “If we can physically stand up to Samoa and are close or in front of them at halftime then we will win the game. But we need to meet them in the physical sense and stop their momentum.”
Having qualified for Rugby World Cup 2015 via the Asian 5 Nations, Jones admitted that Friday’s game would be a step up, even if Samoa were short of a few of their European-based players.
“The reason Samoa is eighth in the world is because they are good players and they’ve got a lot of depth. And these boys will be hungry.”
Jones pointed out that Japan were also missing at least three of their best players – away on Super Rugby duty – and as such the game was in no way a dress rehearsal for their World Cup clash.
“This game has no relevance on the World Cup,” he explained. “Samoa will have a different team next year and so will we. This is simply a one-off test match.”
Lock Hitoshi Ono will become Japan’s most capped player of all time when he takes to the field, surpassing the 81 caps won by Hirotoki Onozawa.
“I have been lucky to play with some great players,” the 36-year-old veteran said. “The Sakura jersey means a lot to me. Samoa are the eighth best team in the world so it is going to be a big challenge.”
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