Japan routs Hong Kong to book World Cup berth
Japan became the 19th team to qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup after thrashing Hong Kong 94-5 at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya Stadium on Saturday.
The victory, which also sees Japan win the HSBC Asian Five Nations for the third straight year, means the Brave Blossoms will take their place in Pool A alongside New Zealand, France, Tonga and Canada.
"We've got two easy games to start so I am not worried about those," Japan coach John Kirwan joked of taking on the All Blacks and France.
"It's important we keep growing. I want to show the world how much we have improved and I hope we have the courage to play our style of rugby. I have never taken the field to lose a game and won't in New Zealand and I am sure the players feel the same."
As the Brave Blossoms proved on Saturday, when they do get their game going they are unstoppable--at least against Asian opposition.
"When we got out on the field I could feel they had never played at that pace," said Shaun Webb, who scored one of Japan's 14 tries and added three conversions. "The team picked up on it and our intensity was top-notch."
Webb said strong words from an unhappy Kirwan on Friday helped motivate the team.
"When JK left the room, the boys pulled in. We didn't want to give him a reason to shout at us after the game," he said.
Kirwan, meanwhile, admitted he was very happy with the team's performance, saying it was the best of the year.
"Today was all about our performance and keeping that level for 80 minutes," he said. "We played until the very end which is what we need to do at the World Cup."
Sadly, the very end also produced the one moment of controversy.
Goshi Tachikawa crossed three minutes after the hooter to put Japan a conversion away from its second straight 100-point haul.
But referee Harry Mason disallowed the try and then showed Tachikawa a red card, much to the anger of the crowd and the confusion and frustration of the players and coaches.
"One of the Hong Kong players came in late and twisted my arm," the fullback explained. "I raised my fist but didn't mean to hit him. It was an accident."
Kirwan was hopeful the red card would be sufficient punishment for Tachikawa, who apologized to the player after the game and presented him with his Japan jersey.
With Touetsu Taufa also getting a yellow card in time added on, the Brave Blossoms finished the game with 13 players.
It might have been a closer affair if they had started with that number.
Alisi Tupuailei crossed for the first of his three tries in the second minute and Japan's progression to New Zealand was assured 16 minutes later when Kosuke Endo brought up the bonus point Japan needed.
From there on, it was a-point-a-minute pace as Japan was simply too big, strong, fast and good.
"We came up against a superb Japan side," said Hong Kong coach Dai Rees. "They stand alone in Asian rugby."
Rees' miserable day was compounded when news came from Incheon that Kazakhstan had beaten South Korea 32-25.
The victory means Kazakhstan pipped Hong Kong for a place in the cross-continental playoffs for the 20th and final spot in New Zealand.
The Koreans will be relegated, with Sri Lanka taking their place in the top flight.
(May. 23, 2010)
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