Japan ready for Ireland clash

FUKUROI, Japan (Sept. 27) – Japan coach Jamie Joseph said his team “will need to play the best game of their lives” if they are to beat Ireland on Saturday in Pool A of the Rugby World Cup.
Joseph named Pieter Labuschagne captain for the game at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa and the South African born flanker said the Irish were a dangerous team.
“They can keep the ball for lots of phases. They’re well drilled and know each other well. Our focus on breakdown from the past couple of months won’t change.”
However, he thought a packed stadium would help Japan overcome the side currently ranked No. 2 in the world.
“Pressure brings the best out of you, the whole team embraces it,” he said. “It just makes you feel alive and what we’re doing is important and the reason why we want to do it.”
Much has been made of the strength of the Irish pack and prop Koo Ji Won said the Brave Blossoms would need to work “for the entire 80 minutes.”
Veteran lock Luke Thompson said possession would be key.
“We want to look after the ball, play disciplined rugby by working hard and supporting the ball carrier. Ireland are a very good disciplined team, so we need to make our chances with the ball in hand,” he said.
The teams last met two years ago in a test-series in Japan. But wing Kotaro Matsushima said much has changed since then.
“There are things that are different tactically and now we have much better understanding of that. We’re are now all on the same page as a team and that’s the difference. We’ve grown in continuation of our attack and the key will be how patient we can be until we score.”
Prop Keita Inagaki said Japan needed to keep their discipline, especially at scrum time.
“They are a team that will look for a penalty from the scrum, I think Ireland take pride in that, and we need to form a scrum that will not give penalties away,” he said. “We need to have an aggressive, attacking scrum to not to give penalties away.”
“The most important thing is keeping the discipline. One penalty can lead to three points depending on the area of the pitch. You don’t get many chances to score against Tier 1 teams and three points can mean a lot later on.”
“If you give penalties away they can choose line-outs and maul, they also have good kickers so can go for three as well so it’s important not give such options in the first place.”