Biggest Improvers?

[Auckland4ever]

Has to be Japan, doesnt it? Wasnt even 10 years ago that the AB's put 145 points on them, now they are competitive with mid-range teams & even pushed France for well over half the match.

I never thought I'd see Japan compete like they are, it seemed like they were physically too small. Now I'm watching them push over a Fijian scrum. They tackle above their weight, never give up, work hard at the tackle ball area and can play running rugby when they want to .

Yeah, there are non-Japanese players in the team, but not enough to make a huge difference, & the skill level & strength of the home-grown players seems to be on par with the others.

I guess the big advantage Japan has over all the other minnow nations is funding. Its kind of like the equilivalent of GB for southern hemisphere RL players. I've lost track of how many good NZ union players end up there & they seem to have helped in lifting the standard of Japanese rugby immeasurably.

 

[bayrep]

I agree A4E, I have been very impressed. I was also impressed with Romania in there opening game against Ireland but they have come unstuck over the later games, and that may of course be that they are not used to playing at a higher level this often. The IRB really has to get the pacific nation tournament going again. Japan have at least proven they deserve it and teams like USA, Canada, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Argentina need to regular games and income that it would generate. The only down side to Japan has been there line outs they still do not have that tall timber so lose to much possession to the opposing team. Imagine how much better they would have gone if they had been on at least par with the opposing team.

 

[bayrep]

ALso to add to the above I would like to see the winner of the Pacific tournament promoted to the tri-nations each year with the bottom placed team of the tri-nations dropping down to the pacific cup imagine the Pacific cup if SA had been dropped down and Japan had been promoted, it would have given interest to both comps.

 

[Bengal]

God I'd love to see the Japanese play League

 

[fizman]

Without doubt Japan is the biggest improvers. They have discipline and are keen learners of the game. Technically, they are excellant in the scrums and their ball movement in the backline is sensational to watch. I like the way that they don't give stupid penalties away as well ie hands in the ruck.

I would love to see Mark Ella take over as the Wallaby Coach if he can produce that sort of backline ball movement.

Fantastic stuff Japan. Biggest disppointments for me have to be Scotland and Fiji.

 

[chileman]

I've really enjoyed watching Japan this WC...can someone tell me, have they actually lost a line out yet??? :shock: I do remember the days when the Japs were just speed humps for opposition teams to run over but they have really endeared themselves to the Aussie crowds and it can only be good for the game! Love to see League take a stronger foothold in Japan too!

 

[bayrep]

I've really enjoyed watching Japan this WC...can someone tell me, have they actually lost a line out yet??? :shock: I do remember the days when the Japs were just speed humps for opposition teams to run over but they have really endeared themselves to the Aussie crowds and it can only be good for the game! Love to see League take a stronger foothold in Japan too!

Yeah they struggled against France and Scotland in the line outs. Everytime Japan got close to the opposition try line with a line out the opposition would snuffle their ball. I am sure Japan would have got a lot closer if not beaten Scotland and France if they had just won a bit more ball. I didnt see the Fiji game so I dont know how they went there. By the way how big was the crowd for the Fiji/Japan game ? and was it more behind Japan or Fiji ?

 

[chileman]

The crowd was very much behind the Japanese...cheered everything they did...don't have a crowd figure but it looked pretty full!

 

[Mango]

Japan are definately on the upward move. Technically they are arguably the best Rugby players on the planet. Georgia, must also rate in this discussion. Their performance against SA tonight was enthralling. They showed 100% commitment and courage, a willingness to chance their arm and were in no way intimidated by a big name country. Just think that Russia was excluded due to a technical breach of the qualifier rules. Money must be put into all the regions. What will the winner of RWC be like in 30 years if the Asian, Americas, Pacific and eastern European nations are funded by the world games profits. Why should a star of the big nations be paid in the millions when a few million per annum could finance the entire code at 6N level in countries such as Georgia, Argentina, Russia, USA, Canada, Japan etc.
Going with 7's at the olympics will see countries such as China direct resources to RUGBY. The current big 5 could have trouble making the semis in 30 years if the game is developed properly....maybe that is part of the problem?