....The latest....
2002 World Cup News... Japan finished their World Cup 2002 campaign on a disappointing note, losing to Ireland 3-23 though the second half effort showed they could be competitive against their opposition. Mariko Yoshioka got Japan`s sole points from a penalty in the first half. At least they have recorded the second win at a Womens World Cup after their 3rd game victory over a young Netherlands team by 37-3 when they raced away with the game in the second half. Tries were scored by Keiko Asami (2), Chikako Sasaki (2), Maya Okada and Miho Udagawa. Yoshioka converted Asami`s 2nd minute try and added a penalty in the first half while replacement Chihiro Koga chimed in with one conversion to complete the scoresheet.
This World Cup has shown just how much the lack of match play both in international games and domestic matches (most club teams play only five or so times a year) affects the competitiveness of the team and its players. It was noticeable that the best players were those with overseas experience such as the winger Nagano (Australia), Tsuboi and Nagata (New Zealand), Yoshioka (England) and Koga (USA).
Japan will not be happy that they could not get close to Italy in their second game at the Women`s World Cup. As in the first game against Spain, they let through an early try and were on the backfoot from there on. Final score: Italy 30 Japan 3. Chihiro Koga stroked over a penalty.
The Japanese womens rugby team returning to World Cup play after missing the 1998 World Cup, came to grief in a tough first encounter against a fired-up host team Spain, losing heavily 0-62. The Japanese coach, Hagimoto said after the match that his team looked very nervous early on and as Spain immediately took the initiative and scored, this rattled the Japanese and they couldn`t get back into the game.
Other 2002 News...A Big Year in the Life of Japanese Womens Rugby.
New Era for Womens Rugby in Japan. The Japan Womens Rugby Committee, lead by Noriko Kishida, joined its men`s counterpart, the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), on 1st April . Hopefully this will bring benefits to Womens Rugby in Japan like better funding for international matches, a higher profile and with it a bigger playing base. Use of high quality facilities and coaching.
World Cup Warm-ups. A squad of 25 was selected to tour Canada for two games in late March, resulting in a 1 win 1 loss record. Results: 25/3 v Victoria Island XV Loss 8-10 , 30/3 v British Colombia Win 31-20. The British Colombia team contained a number of Canada reps but Japan were able to post 4 tries although the team was unhappy at conceding two tries in the dying stages when the game was already won. A tougher foe touched down on Japanese shores in mid-April when top New Zealand provincial side Canterbury stopped off for a short tour. on the 18th they played against Japan `A` (containing fringe players still with an outside chance of a World Cup spot) and thrashed them 84-0. Things looked very ominous for Japan but in the big game on the 21st (Prince Chichibu Ground) the full Japanese team dug their heels in and proved a much tougher nut to crack. Although Canterbury went on to win Japan scored a couple of tries themselves and gained some much needed confidence before the World Cup. Result: Canterbury 30 Japan 10
