Japan make Asian rugby history

The second game in the new Women’s Asian Three Nations took Kazakhstan – 40-0 winners against Hong Kong in the first game two weeks ago – to Fukuoka in Japan for the first official Asian championship game to be played in Japan, and also their first home game for nearly five years.

Japan had expressed their concerns about how they would deal with the strength, size and physicality of their central Asian opponents, and their plan to deal with it was clear from the start. Speed, support and ball retention not only deprived Kazakhstan of possession but also ensured that even when their opponents did have the ball they were always under huge pressure.

It was a tactic that benefited from the fact that neither team possessed a strong kicker – either from hand or the tee. Kazakhstan were forced to try to run the ball out of defence, but with the Japanese players all over them like a swarm of bees the result was either a quick turnover, or an attempted clearance kick that could be quickly recovered and returned.

Japanese set-pieces were also almost faultless. Their lineout in particular was almost perfect, with every Japanese throw being won, along with most Kazakhstani throws. Even the scrum – which was expected to be Kazakhstan’s strongest area – was at best even, with the Japanese even driving their visitors back at times.

Under this ceaseless pressure, Kazakhstani infringements were inevitable. Captain and full back Ai Tasaka missed her first penalty after 16 minutes, but only six minutes later she had another opportunity and put the home team ahead and four minutes later she doubled Japan’s lead with a second successful penalty.

Japan’s patience and ball retention lead to their first try, running through at least twelve faultless phases before wing Reiko Taniguchi finally went over in the corner. Similarly awareness and quick thinking gave them their second try, with a rapidly taken penalty putting Chisato Yokoo in after 39 minutes. 16-0 was the half-time score.

Kazakhstan had barely touched the ball, but the threat that they could pose when they did was amply demonstrated at the start of the second half. Keeping the ball with their forwards and quick recycling quickly cut through the Japanese defence, before a neat interchange between the Kazakhstani centres finally put the visitors on the board at 16-5.

However an error by Aiger­ym Daurembayeva from the restart gave the advantage back to Japan, and the pattern of the first half returned. Despite the success of their opening move in the second half, Kazakhstan failed to repeat the same move for more than two or three phases, with attempted clearance kicks giving up possession which allowed Japan to return to the attack. Eventually after 69 minutes Taskak was given another penalty opportunity, which she converted.

The restart allowed Kazakhstan into the Japanese end for just the second time in the half – and again it produced a try as the pack drove over, but Japan were soon on the offensive again, with a scrum on 5m worked wide to wing Mizuki Honma who just made it into the corner.

Japan continued to dominate, but ultimately inexperience cost them a possible fourth bonus-point try. With the clock on 89 minutes Japan were awarded another penalty, but instead of running the ball Tasaka chose to take the kick. The kick was converted, but the following restart was the also the final play. Japan had won by 27-12, and now go to Hong Kong in two weeks aiming to win the Asian XVs title for the first time.

Teams

Japan: 1. Mina Seina  (Canterbury University Rugby); 2. Jitsusaki Misaki (Kanto Gakuin University Rugby); 3. Maki Ito (Nagoya Ladies); 4. Ayumi Inui (Hyogo Prefecture Rugby School Ladies); 5. Aya Takeuchi (Arukas Queen Kumagaya); 6. Yuki Sue (Tokyo Gakugei University Rugby); 7. Chisato Yokoo (Tokyo Phoenix RC); 8. Maki Takano (Nippon Sport Science University); 9. Chikami Inoue (RKU Rugby Ryugasaki Grace); 10. Minori Yamamoto (Nippon Sport Science University);11.  Mizuki Honma (Nagoya Ladies); 12. Makiko Tomita (Setagaya Ladies); 13. Keiko Kato (Setagaya Ladies); 14. Noriko Taniguchi (Arukas Queen Kumagaya); 15. Ai Tasaka (Arukas Queen Kumagaya)

16. Azusa Yama (Yokohama Tkm); 17. Saki Minami (Nippon Sport Science University); 18. Mateitoga Bogidraumainadave (Arukas Queen Kumagaya); 19. Ai Hyugaji (Yokohama TKM); 20. Mizuho Kataoka (Nippon Sport Science University); 21. Yumeno Noda (Fukuoka Ladies’ Rugby Football Club); 22. Chiharu Nakamura (Arukas Queen Kumagaya); 23. Emi Ito (Nagoya Ladies)

Kazakhstan: TBC

Asian XVs Championship (after two rounds)