Sakura Fifteen Take Two-Test Series Down to the Wire Against USA
While falling agonisingly short of securing their first-ever win against the USA, the Sakura Fifteen achieved their best results to date against the Women’s Eagles, with a draw and a narrow, last-minute loss in the two test matches of the Taiyo Seimei JAPAN RUGBY CHALLENGE SERIES 2024.
Having previously faced the USA only twice before and at neutral venues during Rugby World Cups, this year’s tour was historic as it marked the first time the two sides met on one of either’s home soil.
In their first match on Sunday, August 11 at Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu, the Sakura Fifteen capitalised on the hot and humid conditions to stifle their visitors, minimising the impact of their size and trademark physicality. The game ended in a 17-17 draw, setting up an intriguing contest for the return match six days later on Saturday, August 17 at ECOPA Stadium in Shizuoka.
Following the first test in Kitakyshu, Sakura Fifteens Head Coach, Lesley McKenzie said:
“It was a great occasion tonight, with a special atmosphere in a beautiful stadium. We prepared well over the week, and it was great for the girls to get another game against a team with the stature of the United States here in Japan. “
“There will be a lot of sore bodies tomorrow which will be a good marker of the physicality of the game we played. Americans bring big, physical rugby, it’s one of their trademarks. I think they will now go home and say Japan also brings physical rugby, so I think both teams can be pleased with their efforts in terms of the way they contested the game.”
After the match in Kitakyushu, the action moved north to ECOPA Stadium in Shizuoka on Japan’s main island. A Rugby World Cup 2019 venue with a seating capacity of just over 50,000, the cauldron-like stadium hosted an epic contest, with Japan determined to secure their first-ever win against their seventh-ranked opponents.
In what was a low-scoring, titanic struggle, Japan took an 8-5 lead into the sheds at halftime. The USA kicked a penalty early in the second half to level the scores at 8-8, a score that held until the final moments of the game. After a hard-fought final 30 minutes in which both teams defended valiantly, refusing to concede ground, the USA finally clinched the victory with a penalty kick in the dying stages, ending the match 8-11.
With both teams out on their feet, the Sakura Fifteen were left to ponder what might have been while the USA would have been relieved to snatch the win right at the end.
Following the second test in Shizuoka, Sakura Fifteens Head Coach, Lesley McKenzie said:
“It was such a great opportunity to have these test matches at home to play against teams the calibre of the United States. It produces its own pressure playing at home. The girls feel it and talk about it in camp and it’s something that makes them want to perform. Tonight we didn’t perform at the ideal level, but we showed endeavour defensively and in terms of trying to play in the right areas of the field, it was a real improvement from last week.”
“There were improvements from last week in terms of where we want to play and how much possession we want to give ourselves, but at the same time, we gave away too much possession. These types of games, these really challenging arm wrestles with frustrating outcomes are genuine opportunities for us ahead of the WXV where we will face teams that are seasoned Six Nations campaigners – teams that are really physical and direct in how they play. We have to learn from these two matches as things are not going to be getting any easier as we move through the rest of the year.”
USA Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka added:
“Thank you everyone for coming. It was a massive contest that went for 80 minutes. Clearly both teams could’ve won in the end, and we respect the talents of the Sakura Fifteen. We would’ve liked to have been smarter with our rugby and played in the right areas of the field more often. Clearly we had a lot of character in defense to keep turning up and to get that last turnover.”
Japan vs USA Past Results:
August 17, 2024 (L) 8-11 Shizuoka, Japan
August 11, 2024 (D) 17-17 Kitakyushu, Japan
October 15, 2022 (L) 17-30 Whangarei, New Zealand (RWC)
April 15, 1994 (L) 0-121 Melrose, Scotland (RWC)