The Japanese national rugby team played a domestic test match in Oita City for the first time in two years since the World Cup, and lost 23 to 32 against the powerful Australia.

Japan, which is ranked 10th in the world ranking, held a domestic test match at Showa Denko Dome in Oita City for the first time in about two years since the World Cup Japan Tournament, which made it to the top 8 for the first time. I played a match.



The match was held with spectators up to 50% of the capacity of the venue and was visited by more than 17,000 people.



In Japan, in addition to the number eight Kazuki Himeno who played an active part in the adult World Cup and the scrum-half Yutaka Nagare who returned to the national team for the first time in two years, players with little experience as a national team also joined the team.



In the first half of the game, the opponent's off-road pass, which was connected while receiving a tackle, broke the defense and allowed the first move, and it was a lead development, but after that, Remeki Romanorava tried from Rikiya Matsuda's skillful kick pass. In the first half, the match ended 13 to 17 after catching up.



In the second half, the difficult situation continued, such as Lemeki being sent off for 10 minutes due to a foul, and although two tries were decided in a row and the lead was widened, Ryoto Nakamura took the opponent's pass. After deciding the try as it was, Yu Tamura's penalty goal was 23 to 27, which was close to 4 points again.



However, Japan, who was robbed of the try just before the end, lost 23 to 32, and the match against Australia in the test match was 6 consecutive losses.

Himeno "I'm disappointed because it was a winning match."

Kazuki Himeno, who started in Number 8, said, "I'm disappointed because it was a winning match. I made my debut as a representative of Japan in the match against Australia four years ago. You can see how much you have grown in four years. I'm happy with the match, but I'm disappointed as a team. "



On top of that, "I was nervous because it was my first time to play in Japan, but it was fun to play in front of the fans and I want to do it again. After that, there are 3 test matches, so the next team will win as a team. I want to, "he said.

Nakamura "I want to become stronger as Japan"

Ryoto Nakamura, the deputy captain who decided one try, said, "I was able to play with the happiness of playing in front of the fans. I've been preparing to win all the time, so I'm disappointed with the result. By the way, there is a difference. I want to practice with more attention to detail. I also want to improve and prepare to win, and I want to become stronger as Japan. "

Growth of young people Demonstrate certain results

おととしのワールドカップ日本大会で、史上初めてベスト8進出を果たし、日本に興奮を届けたラグビー日本代表。



しかし、そこから2年間は、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大で、国内で計画されていたテストマッチはすべて中止されました。



来年1月に新しいリーグの開幕を控えるラグビー界にとって、オーストラリアという世界トップクラスの強豪を迎えての試合は2年前の盛り上がりを取り戻すためにも重要な一戦でした。



おととしのワールドカップで活躍したプロップの稲垣啓太選手は「今回、自分の国でテストマッチを戦うことがどれだけの意味を持っているか理解しているので、勝たないと意味がない。これまでも自分たちがやってきたことを100%発揮できれば結果を残せることは証明してきたと思うので、また日本の皆さんと喜び合いたい」と試合に向けた思いを話していました。



また、今回の試合のもう1つ大きなポイントになっていたのが、ジェイミー・ジョセフヘッドコーチが育成してきた若手が質の高いプレーをできるかどうかでした。



試合のメンバーには、おととしのワールドカップを経験していない選手から9人、このうち2人はテストマッチに出場したことが全くない選手が選ばれました。



特に注目されているポジションが、攻撃の際にボールを展開する役割を担う「スクラムハーフ」。



ボールと人がスピーディーに動く、機動的なラグビーを目指している日本にとって最も大事なポジションの1つです。



おととしのワールドカップで活躍した流大選手が代表を離れていた期間、代役を務めた齋藤直人選手は、初めての代表活動となったことしの夏のヨーロッパ遠征では、高いパフォーマンスを見せました。



Saito said, "I haven't become an indispensable player for the team yet, but I'm well prepared from my experience on the last European expedition. I want to take the opportunity of the return of the current player to grow." rice field.



And in the game on the 23rd, he showed his own strength against the 3rd place in the world ranking, such as participating in the middle and handling the pass lightly.



Japan did not win the test match against Australia for the first time, but it was a match that showed some results.