Tokyo (AFP)

Arguments to make: after his victory against Scotland on Sunday in Yokohama (28-21), Japan approaches the quarter-finals of the World Cup against South Africa swollen with confidence on his perfectly mastered game, his Sparkling physical form and worn by a whole country.

Set to a double revenge, next Sunday in Tokyo: the meeting of the World Cup-2015, that the "Brave Blossoms" had won to the surprise (34-32) in Brighton, and that of September 6, largely lost (41 -7) in preparation.

After reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in their history, they will have "nothing to lose," according to the words, Monday, Kenki Fukuoka.

The supersonic winger and his teammates can rely on the certainty gained during the group phase during which, according to their captain Michael Leitch, they have "continued to grow, our confidence grows" over four victories in four games, including against Ireland (19-12).

"Four years ago, we made a masked advance, not this time: we beat two Tier 1 teams (the World Rugby World Rugby Elite, Editor's Note) and finished top of our group. history and accomplished incredible things for Japanese rugby but the tournament is not over, "says second row Luke Thompson.

- "For a whole country" -

Indeed, and a whole country pushes to carry them as far as possible. As against the Scots, in a stadium of Yokohama (67,666 spectators) with red and white colors.

"An incredible source of motivation," said coach Jamie Joseph after the game, when his Scottish counterpart, Gregor Townsend, estimated the gain from home play to be "10 or 20 percent".

"We do not play for us but for a whole country," Thompson said. A country hit by the typhoon Hagibis, Saturday and Sunday, which killed at least 35 people, while nearly 20 people remained missing Monday.

The "Brave Blossoms" claim to play for these victims, like the third line Kazuki Himeno: "We will continue to work and give courage to the Japanese through rugby."

If this support and mission of general interest can give them wings, the Japanese can also rely on concrete to dream big.

Starting with their fitness, at the highest after having benefited from a shortened championship season and a play time set within the Sunwolves franchise in Super Rugby. "We are very well prepared, in great shape," Thompson said Sunday.

Physically developed, the "Cherry Blossoms" can develop their game made of movement, after-contact passes and mobility, modeled on their templates. They play on their qualities and in particular those of their wingmen Fukuoka and Kotaro Matsushima.

"What impressed me the most is the speed they put in their game. Probably more than any other team," said Scotsman Scott Cummings on Sunday.

- Open table -

But Jamie Joseph, who has been in the squad since 2016, has also built a strong team to conquer and can rely on powerful forward ball carriers, Leith and Himeno in the lead, to create the advance and put the back arrows into orbit. .

A team, especially, who knows himself on the fingertips after spending four months together, or more for players who work together with the Sunwolves, driven by ... Joseph.

The South Africans are warned: they should face a much more experienced and confident team than a little over a month ago in Kumagaya, where the Japanese had "missed a lot of opportunities" and offered tests on interception to the Boks, according to Townsend.

Although the latter also have legs behind, the "Brave Blossoms" have also proved, against Ireland, they could compete in the upwind fight.

And if they ever manage to defeat the South African ogre, then their painting, which will propose them Wales or France in the semi-finals and not the New Zealand and English favorites, gives them all hope. And those of a whole country.

© 2019 AFP