The Japanese Rugby Team & Their SuperWinger
July 25th 2007 14:43
Yes I know, I know. A non Larkham Wallabies Rugby post.
Wonders will never cease...coming up soon, a Larkham-less post...and please enjoy your flight with Porcine Air...
One team I have a lot of respect for is the Japanese Rugby team (formerly known as the Cherry Blossoms, now Brave Blossoms)
Please read corresponding post on Rugby World Cup 2007 for news on Japan's Rugby World Cup Squad 07.
Although the Japanese team is not considered a world leader in Rugby (they have suffered very hard losses against the "big names" but, have also enjoyed some great and brave wins), this team is the strongest Asian Rugby team and has been considered so for a long time.
Rugby Union in Japan is administered by the Japan Rugby Football Union which was founded in 1926.
Rugby was introduced to Japan in 1899.
from Wikipedia
They have previously relied heavily on expatriate players to bolster their side but have built on their experience and have steadily begun to improve their world standing.
Japan is currently ranked 18th out of 95 Rugby playing countries.
Japan has participated in every Rugby World Cup. Unfortunately, they have only ever won one game at the tournament; against Zimbabwe in 1991.
They have spirit and flair and a truly inspirational "never say die" attitude.
The Samurai Spirit.
...and Sumo wrestlers would make the best props. Could you imagine packing down in a scrum against them???
Japan competes annually in the Pacific Nations Cup* against Australia A, Fiji, the Junior All Blacks, Samoa and Tonga.
Japan's current coach is former All Black winger (considered one of the greatest AB wingers ever), John Kirwan.
Although the team is made up of many excellent players...and if I wasn't such a monocularLarkham Wallabies Rugby fan, I'd know more about them...there is one in particular who is in a class of his own.
Daisuke Ohata is Japan's leading try-scorer AND the Japanese winger’s name is now written into the sport’s history books after he broke the try-scoring record of Australian legend David Campese in May 2006.
This amazing achievement happened at the Hanazono Stadium in Osaka which, fittingly, had been the city where Ohata was born 32 years ago.
This fast-as-lightening winger exploded onto the international Rugby scene in the 1999 Hong Kong Sevens tournament where he was named most valuable player.
Since making his debut for Japan against Korea back in November 1996 (a momentous occasion...Ohata marked it with a hat-trick of tries at the 15th Asian Championship) Ohata has now scored 69 tries for his country in 58 matches.
Making Daisuke Ohata the world record holder for test match tries.
Ohata has been sidelined since January this year, due to an Achilles heel injury but has been named in Japan's Rugby World Cup squad...which is great news, not only for Japan but for World Rugby.
The Wallabies play their first world Cup match against Japan on September 8th.
I wish the Blossoms all the best...but...we know where my loyalty lies...
*********************
Japanese Readers, for further Rugby Union and Wallabies information, please visit:
*******************
* Pacific Nations Cup - an international Rugby Union competition, started in 2006 and originally known as the IRB Pacific 5 Nations until Australia A joined the party.
Teams:
Australia A, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks (New Zealand's second 15).
compiled with the help of bloggers pal Wiki
images courtesy of Getty Images and DOHA 2006
Wonders will never cease...coming up soon, a Larkham-less post...and please enjoy your flight with Porcine Air...
One team I have a lot of respect for is the Japanese Rugby team (formerly known as the Cherry Blossoms, now Brave Blossoms)
Please read corresponding post on Rugby World Cup 2007 for news on Japan's Rugby World Cup Squad 07.
Although the Japanese team is not considered a world leader in Rugby (they have suffered very hard losses against the "big names" but, have also enjoyed some great and brave wins), this team is the strongest Asian Rugby team and has been considered so for a long time.
Rugby Union in Japan is administered by the Japan Rugby Football Union which was founded in 1926.
Rugby was introduced to Japan in 1899.
from Wikipedia
The first recorded instance of rugby being played in Japan was in 1874, when British sailors staged a game in Yokohama.
The sport was introduced to students at Keio University in 1899 by Professor Edward Bramwell Clarke and Tanaka Ginnosuke.
Japan's first international took place on 31 January 1932 when a trade delegation from Canada brought a rugby union team. The Japanese won 9 - 8.
The sport was introduced to students at Keio University in 1899 by Professor Edward Bramwell Clarke and Tanaka Ginnosuke.
They have previously relied heavily on expatriate players to bolster their side but have built on their experience and have steadily begun to improve their world standing.
Japan is currently ranked 18th out of 95 Rugby playing countries.
Japan has participated in every Rugby World Cup. Unfortunately, they have only ever won one game at the tournament; against Zimbabwe in 1991.
In the fifth World Cup, RWC 2003 held in Australia, Japan coached by Shogo Mukai was hailed as the best of the so-called 'minnow' nations and left a lasting and delightful impression with its speedy play and sportsmanship, gaining many new Japanese and foreign fans in the process, but unfortunately the team still failed to win any games.
They have spirit and flair and a truly inspirational "never say die" attitude.
The Samurai Spirit.
...and Sumo wrestlers would make the best props. Could you imagine packing down in a scrum against them???
Japan (in red) v S Korea during the RWC 07 Asia Qualifier Match 25/11/06
Japan competes annually in the Pacific Nations Cup* against Australia A, Fiji, the Junior All Blacks, Samoa and Tonga.
Japan's current coach is former All Black winger (considered one of the greatest AB wingers ever), John Kirwan.
Although the team is made up of many excellent players...and if I wasn't such a monocular
Daisuke Ohata
Daisuke Ohata is Japan's leading try-scorer AND the Japanese winger’s name is now written into the sport’s history books after he broke the try-scoring record of Australian legend David Campese in May 2006.
On May 14, 2006 Daisuke scored three tries for Japan against Georgia, in doing so breaking the world record for tries in test matches previously held by David Campese.
This amazing achievement happened at the Hanazono Stadium in Osaka which, fittingly, had been the city where Ohata was born 32 years ago.
That Ohata would break the record was never in doubt – it was a question of when the prolific wing would surpass Campese’s benchmark of 64 tries in 101 Tests, which had stood for more than a decade and remains an Australian record.
This fast-as-lightening winger exploded onto the international Rugby scene in the 1999 Hong Kong Sevens tournament where he was named most valuable player.
Since making his debut for Japan against Korea back in November 1996 (a momentous occasion...Ohata marked it with a hat-trick of tries at the 15th Asian Championship) Ohata has now scored 69 tries for his country in 58 matches.
Making Daisuke Ohata the world record holder for test match tries.
Ohata has been sidelined since January this year, due to an Achilles heel injury but has been named in Japan's Rugby World Cup squad...which is great news, not only for Japan but for World Rugby.
The Wallabies play their first world Cup match against Japan on September 8th.
I wish the Blossoms all the best...but...we know where my loyalty lies...
*********************
Japanese Readers, for further Rugby Union and Wallabies information, please visit:
*******************
* Pacific Nations Cup - an international Rugby Union competition, started in 2006 and originally known as the IRB Pacific 5 Nations until Australia A joined the party.
Teams:
Australia A, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks (New Zealand's second 15).
compiled with the help of bloggers pal Wiki
images courtesy of Getty Images and DOHA 2006
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Comment by David
How many tries would this guy score if he was in one of the major teams?
I Campo over it yet?
David ...
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Glad they changed it ... it doesn't exactly foster fear in the minds of the opposition.
xxxx
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
It's funny you should say that...Campsleazy was not very happy about it...well I don't expect him to be, he's never happy about anything.
There was a lot of crap talk about the try-scoring records of Ohata and Campese being incomparable because of their respective teams and opponents but that's a moot point.
Ohata had said that he agrees with the critics it but he doesn't care...he was actually looking forward to Campese having a whinge!...he also said that he was sure Campese didn't expect his record to be broken by a Japanese player!
If Ohata played for the Wallabies....wow...he's not getting slower with age...but he will stay loyal to his country for as long as possible.
Ohata is BIG superstar in Japan.
I hope he keeps the record for a long time. He is truly spectacular to watch...he was great during the last World Cup.
The Japanse team is very well liked all over the Rugby world. They may not win in the big tournaments but they always entertain.
You'll see their style of play in the first Wallabies match...what i love about them is that they feel genuinely thrilled to be playing against the "big names"...but never let that stop them from wanting to beat the hell out of their opponents.
mah warmth sugah...
Dusk
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Maybe it sounds better in Japanese.
You know how everything just sounds more aggressive and dominating....
DDH once coached a team that was named in its language.
Unfortunately the English translation is...Lemons.
H really really and I mean really tried to get them to change it but the lemon tree was a respected plant, etc so...it stayed.
DDH found it rather funny to say he was Coach of the Lemons..especially when they kept winning.
...he reverted to the ethnic name if they lost!
Hugs Cara...
Dusk
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Japan leads the Asian nations but it would be great if they moved up into the 1st tier teams.
I feel bad for Fiji because they don't have the funding they need to really make their team zoom.