25 Sports Thursday, September 19, 2019 Bag of nerves: Japan’s Leitch tense before World Cup opener ‘I’m so nervous I’ve been making all sorts of mistakes in training’ TOKYO: Japan captain Michael Leitch said yesterday ‘SCARY’ RUSSIANS that he has been “all over the place” in practice in the “I never read Japanese newspapers but I’ve never run-up to this week’s Rugby World Cup opener against really considered us to be the favourites,” said the former Russia. The talismanic skipper, who missed a chunk of All Black, pointing to a narrow 32-27 win over a hulking the year with a groin injury, was named in a strong Russian side last November. “We have a lot of respect for Brave Blossoms side by Japan coach Jamie Joseph for Russia,” he added. “We were very lucky to win last time tomorrow’s Pool A clash in Tokyo. we played. I wouldn’t say we were favourites — I’d say But Leitch, joined by Japan stalwarts Yu Tamura and we were even going into this Test match and if we don’t Shota Horie in an experienced starting line-up, admit- play our best we’re going to struggle.” ted he has been taken aback by the scale of the media Despite the absence of Fukuoka, Joseph has enough attention on the hosts in the run-up to the game. firepower in the shape of Kotaro Matsushima and “This is no normal turnout,” Leitch told a packed Lomano Lemeki to leave Russia chasing shadows in news conference. “I’m so nervous I’ve been making all Tokyo. “We think we have the best guys for the job,” sorts of mistakes in training — there’s so many people insisted Joseph, who has kept Japan among the world’s and so many cameras. But I’m very proud to be part of top 10 rugby nations since taking over from Eddie the World Cup and to be captain of the Japan rugby Jones. “The team has prepared as well as ever before team.” Leitch, who orchestrated Japan’s jaw-dropping and we look forward to Friday night.” 34-32 victory over South Africa in their opening game Leitch called on Japan to thrive on the pressure of on England’s south coast four years ago, predicted that kicking off the tournament. “There’s been pressure for the home side would make history by reaching the over four years,” he said. “We’ve talked about it, con- knockout stage for the first time. fronted it. In terms of hyping the boys up, I don’t need “In 2015 everyone expected us to lose — even the to do that. We don’t need permission to play well — Japanese public,” said the Japan flanker. just go out and enjoy it.” However, the Japan captain “But when we beat South Africa, all eyes were on us. ended on a cautious note, warning of Russia’s feisty The next game against Scotland 30 million people nature. “Their mentality is quite scary,” he said. “Their watched on TV and even though we lost, it inspired martial arts fighters are so tough — even their sumo Japan. “This time we’ve got the opportunity to inspire wrestlers. I’m sure they’re going to bring it.” Japan again. We’ve trained well, prepared well and this TOKYO: Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) is presented jerseys of Japan’s national rugby team by the team’s will be Japan’s best World Cup ever.” Japan (15-1) captain Michael Leitch (2nd R) during a courtesy call by World Rugby officials as part of the Webb Ellis Trophy Joseph, who will be without flying winger Kenki William Tupou; Kotaro Matsushima, Timothy tour, at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo, ahead of the start of the 2019 Rugby World Cup on September 20. —AFP Fukuoka (thigh strain), insisted Japan would not go into Lafaele, Ryoto Nakamura, Lomano Lava Lemeki; Yu tomorrow’s game as favourites, despite the weight of Tamura, Yutaka Nagare; Kazuki Himeno, Pieter van der Walt; Asaeli Ai Valu, Shota Horie, Keita Inagaki. Ji-won, Luke Thompson, Hendrik Tui, Fumiaki Tanaka, evidence. Labuschagne, Michael Leitch; James Moore, Wimpie Replacements: Atsushi Sakate, Isileli Nakajima, Koo Rikiya Matsuda, Ryohei Yamanaka. — AFP nificant and there’s a completely different feel, so I sup- phase, likened Gregor Townsend’s Scotland side to a ‘Brewing’ Ireland pose that’s a culmination of what’s happened over the “box of tricks”, saying they liked to take calculated last couple of months into this week. risks while playing at a high tempo. “The build-up, the week, the buy-in, the grabbing “We need to expect the unexpected and try to get chomping at the hold of the week by not just the senior players but ahead of the game. “We need to make sure we create Russians plot everyone in the group has been very significant.” opportunities from our defence to combat that.” Farrell bit: Farrell Farrell, a former Wigan and Britain rugby league legend confirmed that centre Robbie Henshaw, who missed the Japan shock in who had a brief spell in union as a player during which opening two games of the 2015 World Cup, was out for time he won eight caps for England and appeared at the weekend, but added that he was expected to be YOKOHAMA: World Rugby’s number one ranked team the 2007 World Cup, said experience was showing back for the second pool game, against Japan. WCup opener Ireland are peaking at just the right time, assistant through in a squad boasting almost 1,300 caps. “The progress has been great and he’s hitting all the coach Andy Farrell said yesterday ahead of their World “We trained unbelieveably well on Monday,” he said. markers as far as a return to training etc so they’re hap- Cup opener against Scotland on the weekend. “As coaches we didn’t need to be on the field because py with how he’s progressing and hopefully he’ll keep TOKYO: Russia coach Lyn Jones said yesterday Such was the bite and desire at training, Farrell said, of the ownership. “We have experienced players... and that upward curve,” he said. Aside from hosts Japan, he had a cunning plan to ambush hosts Japan in that the coaches didn’t even need to be on the paddock they know what it takes to build through this week. Pool A also includes Russia and Samoa. this week’s Rugby World Cup opener, revealing in some sessions. “This week, there’s certainly a feel of “That’s what you want, they’re sorting themselves Progression from the pool for the two top finishers only that it involves a little mayhem. The something that’s brewing that’s of major importance to out and that’s where we want to be. “We are building would set up quarter-finals against the winners and Russians, known as the Bears, will tower over the squad,” said Farrell, who will take over from Joe because we don’t want to reach boiling point on runners-up from Pool B, likely to be a permutation of their opposite numbers when they line up in Schmidt after the Kiwi stands down as Ireland head Wednesday or Friday.” Farrell, who was defence coach New Zealand and South Africa. That means Farrell Tokyo tomorrow, but few people are giving them coach after the World Cup. for England at the last World Cup when they became might only get to pitch himself against his son, current much chance of springing an upset against the “The intensity, the bite that’s in training is very sig- the first host nation to fail to progress from the pool England playmaker Owen, from the semi-finals. —AFP world’s 10th-ranked side. “With structured and organised sides like Japan you need to create chaos to get them to think for themselves,” Jones told AFP after nam- The big question: ing a full-strength side led by his skipper Vasily Artemyev. “I don’t know if they’re educated to do that, Who will win but it’s all theory anyway. “We do have a plan,” added the former Wales international. “We have Rugby World Cup? got a formula and we think we can take Japan on and make life as difficult as possible for them.” Russia gave Japan a fright the last times the TOKYO: The 2019 edition of the Rugby World Cup is teams met in November, the Brave Blossoms being hailed as the most open ever, with several teams scraping a 32-27 victory in Gloucester. “We just considered serious contenders. Here are the main chal- need to enter that last 20 minutes with every- lengers: thing to play for,” said Jones. “Let’s be realistic — there’s probably a 20 NEW ZEALAND: THREE IN A ROW? percent of us winning the game,” he admitted Bookmakers’ favourites to win an unprecedented ahead of the Pool A fixture. Jones pointed to third straight title, the mighty All Blacks tuned up for wingers Kirill Golosnitskiy and German Davydov their Cup defence with a 92-7 demolition of Tonga and as potential match-winners for Russia if the with three former World Rugby Players of the Year in Japanese fail to fire. their ranks, they remain the team to beat in Japan. “They’re fantastic players and they know the Coach Steve Hansen has challenged his players to way to the line,” the former flanker, who only embrace the pressure and it will take a momentous per- took charge of Russia last year, said.