Japan after at least one win or the blossom fades

By WYNNE GRAY

Japan may have to wait until their final pool game, against the United States, to discover if they have any Cup bragging rights.

This will be Japan's fifth Cup and on their current form and past record of one victory in 12 matches, they will be fortunate to ease their way out of this tournament with another win.

Rugby is a very old game in Japan. It carries a great deal of prestige for university and company sides.

But that elitist system can be detrimental as some national prospects can be ignored if they play for unfashionable sides.

Rugby remains a fast-paced, free-flowing, hybrid style of game in Japan, a sport which is a mix of rugby, league and touch. It can be a great spectacle but the teams' lack of size and structure hurts them at the top level.

Players are remarkably agile, fast and courageous but they suffer against sides with any bulk.

Back row forward Takuro Miuchi is the captain and with Yuya Saito and Naoya Okubo offers a strong loose trio.

There is also great hope for 21-year-old prop and converted sumo wrestler Ryo Yamamura.

The stars are wing Daisuke Ohata and New Zealand five-eighths Andy Miller.

Ohata brings superb speed, a strong sidestep and the experience of playing in the Sydney club competition.

He made his reputation as the MVP at the Hong Kong sevens in 1999.

But it is Miller, the small first five eighths, who is the team commander.

He plays for Kobe, balances risk and reward well and has solid rugby instincts to bring out the best athletic talents of his exciting backline.

Fluent in Japanese, Miller has brought a direction to the side which had been missing before he became eligible last year.

Japan qualified for this Cup after dealing to Korea and Chinese-Taipei last year, but they have suffered massive losses in other warm-up matches against sides like the United States, Russia and Tonga.

The greatest challenge for the Cherry Blossoms appears to be their last pool match, against the United States in Gosford.

If Japan do not get at least the one victory they crave at the tournament, it will put more pressure on them to change their domestic club structure.

Warm weather in Townsville may suit Japan, and they could trouble Scotland there in their opening match.

However, it is more likely they will have to wait until Gosford to see whether they can add to their solitary World Cup win, against Zimbabwe back in 1991.

Full World Cup coverage