Philippines run over by Japanese gauntlet
View(s):HSBC Asian Five Nation Top Five competition
By Alvin Sallay in Hong Kong
Sri Lanka will just need to look at the fate of the Philippines in Fukuoka yesterday to realise the magnitude of the task that awaits them in the HSBC Asian Five Nation Top Five competition next year.
Philippines, who defeated Sri Lanka 28-18 in Manila in the Division one competition last year to gain promotion, was totally outplayed as Japan ran in 18 tries to begin their campaign to win a sixth consecutive Asian Five Nations crown on a high note with a record 121-0 victory.
And a new star was born in Asian rugby. Japan’s 20-year-old winger Kenki Fukuoka scored two scintillating tries as the hosts took no prisoners in a convincing display of open rugby.
In the other game in Hong Kong, the hosts were hardly impressive as they put in a shoddy performance before brushing aside the United Arab Emirates 53-7 at the Hong Kong Football Club.
Fukuoka, coming in as a second-half substitute, lived up to his billing as one of the most exciting young prospects on the Japanese rugby scene as he scored with his first two touches of the ball.
His first try, a magnificent 60-yard effort down the left touchline where he outpaced two defenders, was justification of coach Eddie Jones’ move to use this tournament to bring on young blood with an eye on the 2015 World Cup, and more importantly the one after that, in 2019, when Asia and Japan hosts the biggest rugby show for the first time.
The Japanese forwards led by 64-cap veteran lock forward Hitoshi Ono dominated the scrums and lineouts completely. Packing down at 876 kilograms, the Japan forwards time and again pushed their counterparts off the ball to enjoy total possession which they used to maximum effect.
Jones, who coached Australia at the 2003 World Cup, is in his second year as coach of the Brave Blossoms and is trying to instill an attacking brand of rugby to Japan. There was plenty of evidence that his young team is on the right track as both forwards and backs moved the ball around despite a sodden pitch at the stadium in Fukuoka.
“It was a good performance first up,” said Jones. “But it’s always difficult to tell given the quality of the opposition. We have been working on getting physically stronger and you saw a little of that today.”
The winning score was the biggest ever in the history of the tournament, the third highest score ever recorded by Japan and the fourth highest in a World Cup qualifier.
“Japan are the benchmark in Asian rugby and showed us what it takes to be at that level,” said Philippines coach Jarred Hodges. “They were too big, too strong and too fast.”
Japan will play 10 tests in as many weeks starting with the Top Five followed in successive weeks by matches against Tonga and Fiji, two games against Wales and single tests against Canada and the USA. The aim of Jones is to get Japan into the world’s top 10 by the time the 2015 World Cup comes around.
Despite a number of players playing Super Rugby in New Zealand including scrumhalf Fumiaki Tanaka who turns out for the Highlanders, Japan hardly missed them as they turned Philippines into cannon fodder.
It was a completely different story as Hong Kong turned in a ponderous performance against UAE. Although they ran in eight tries, the home team only came good in the last ten minutes when the home team added 19 points leaving both captain Tom McColl and oach Leigh Jones unhappy.
“It is good to get the win but our execution was not up to standard,” said skipper and fullback McColl unhappy with the litany of mistakes. Poor ball handling forced Hong Kong to concede numerous turnovers to their opponents who played a tight game keeping the ball with the forwards.
Most of Hong Kong’s tries came from mistakes by their opponents and this lack of creativity by his backs and forwards left coach Leigh Jones unhappy.
“We lacked players with the X-factor today, and I guess we were rusty too, this being our first game. We have a lot of work to do,” Jones said.
Hong Kong didn’t field any of their sevens players – which meant a whole new backline was on display against UAE – as the city bid’s to become a core team on the IRB Sevens World Series. With the London Sevens (the qualifying tournament for next season) clashing with the A5N, Hong Kong are fielding two separate squads and the absence of the sevens players was felt badly.
It once again highlighted the fine tightrope Hong Kong rugby walks. Unlike Japan, or even Sri Lanka, their depth in players is small. And it showed yesterday, but the good thing was that even playing badly, they still won handsomely.
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