At the end of last year, the success of the Japanese national soccer team in the World Cup became a big topic, but this year it is rugby.
The Rugby World Cup in France will start in September.
The Japanese national team has set a goal of making the best four, which is the best ever, and plans to strengthen it through matches such as League One matches in Japan.
In the second half of the article, we talked with Jamie Joseph, head coach of the Japan national team, who is challenging this important year, and Kensuke Iwabuchi, managing director of the Japan Rugby Union, who is responsible for strengthening the players and popularizing the sport. I will tell you.
The Rugby World Cup will start in France on September 8th, and Japan, which made it to the top 8 for the first time in its own country last time, aims to advance to the top 4, surpassing it.
In the tournament, the 20 participating teams will be divided into four groups of five teams to play the first round, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals.
Japan, currently ranked 10th in the world, will be in Group D of the first league.
The following four teams entered the same group.
▽ England, who were ranked 5th in the world and were runners-up in the previous tournament.
▽ Argentina ranked 8th in the world.
▽ Samoa ranked 11th in the world.
▽ Chile ranked 22nd in the world.
Last season, Japan played multiple test matches against powerhouses such as New Zealand and France, and systematically strengthened their team by having many of their players gain experience.
On the other hand, head coach Jamie Joseph raises an issue, saying, "Compared to the strong teams, we are lacking in terms of physical strength."
In the future, it will be a big point to achieve the best 4 how far the players can improve through matches such as League One held in Japan.
《Interview with Joseph HC, Japan Rugby Union Managing Director Iwabuchi》
Joseph Head Coach New Year's Enthusiasm [Q&A]
We asked head coach Jamie Joseph, who led Japan to the last eight in the last tournament and will lead the team this year, about his enthusiasm for the new year.
Q.
In 2023, we will finally reach the World Cup year.
A.
I think the team is headed in a very good direction for the World Cup.
The players are competing in League One and they are really motivated.
This season, I want them to use the feedback they gave us and put it out well in League One.
And when I join the team in June, July, and August, I want to see how the players have grown and prepare for the World Cup.
Q.
What will you do in the future to overcome the challenges of the team?
A.
In the 2022 season, the players have played against many *Tier 1 teams and have really grown, and I think it has been a very exciting season, especially for the young players.
(* "Tier 1" = 10 strong teams in the world)
However, compared to the strong teams, we are lacking in physical aspects.
In order to overcome that, it is very important to play many high-intensity matches.
I think it is important for the national team to play high-level matches in League One.
Considering that we won't be able to have many test matches in the future, I think that will be the biggest challenge.
Q.
What do you expect from the players in League One?
A.
I play for a team that is not the Japanese national team, and of course I have a different coach.
Each team will have a different style, but I think the players have to adapt to each team.
I think it's the same in Japan and in any other country in the world.
Among them, the required skills and base are the same as before, so I think it's important to do one or two things that we need to do well until the World Cup.
Our staff would like to observe from the outside.
And when I return to the Japanese national team, I hope we can point it out again.
Q.
What is Japan's national rugby team like?
A.
I think that the part of using skills and fitness is going well, and I think that there is no change in consistency.
The level of rugby is high, and in terms of attacking, I think we were able to prove that we can create good chances in test matches last season.
However, in terms of my physical strength, I think I have to improve more and more against opponents who are still big.
The defense part is the challenge for us.
As was the case against England in November, I feel the pressure at the scrum and the lineout.
Especially in the scrum, I felt the pressure and became passive in the physical part.
In that case, I think it will be difficult to build our own momentum.
Q.
I think the team is aiming for the last four in the World Cup. How confident are you about that?
A.
We have to aim for that, but I think we have to get into the top 8 first.
1 games 1 games, it means playing a good game.
First of all, I would like to do my best with the aim of making it to the top 8.
Japan Rugby Union Executive Director Iwabuchi New Year's Enthusiasm [Q&A]
Kensuke Iwabuchi, Executive Director of the Japan Rugby Union, who is responsible for steering the Japanese rugby world, such as strengthening players and popularizing the game.
We asked him about his enthusiasm for the new year, his outlook for the World Cup year, and the future of the rugby world.
Q.
World Cup year, where is the most important point for the Japanese national team to win?
A.
I think the players and staff have various ideas, but looking at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups, I think the most important thing is the mental peaking of the players.
In both 2015 and 2019, the results of the games until just before the match were not positive, but there is a part that the mental condition that ``we can do it'' gradually improved.
This year's World Cup will be held away from home, so unlike last time, there will be travel and the environment will change significantly.
In that sense, I think it's very important that the mental condition matches perfectly.
The players will definitely train well and the staff will prepare well, so I'm not worried about that at all.
The most important thing is how well we can improve mentally as a team, so I think it's important to create something like an atmosphere together.
For that reason, I would like to firmly support as an association.
Q.
In 2022, we also experienced a test match with a strong team for the World Cup.
A.
I had a lot of conversations with head coach Joseph, and our policy was to play well in 2022 and head into 2023.
Head Coach Joseph told me that he wants to have a tough year.
In that sense, we were able to set up a game with a strong team and a schedule that we wanted.
Of course, there are various issues related to winning and losing, and there are various reflections on the content.
However, in terms of the program in a broader sense, I think that we were able to play 11 games as a national team, and we were able to move forward, including the selection of players.
Q.
On the other hand, in 2022, he struggled to win a test match against a tier 1 team.
How do you perceive it?
(* “Tier 1” = 10 strong teams in the world)
A．
Last season we played 5 test matches against the top 10 teams in France, New Zealand and England but failed to win.
Of course, there are many reflections, and I am trying to analyze the contents of the program and move forward.
While we recognize that it will not be easy to win against strong teams, we believe that it is necessary for us to build a solid system to support the national team in the future, and to create a situation in which we can see the results seriously. increase.
What I want to do is make it a matter of course to put together a program like last season's and beat the strong teams every year.
In the old days, when it came to playing against teams like France or New Zealand, I think they would have looked at it from the perspective of ``it would be nice if they won,'' but now they look at it as ``won't win, right?''.
In that sense, I think that the fact that it has reached a level that can be viewed severely is proof that Japanese rugby is moving forward in a good way.
From here on out, I think it's important to create a system and an environment to look at the battle record severely.
Q.
What do you feel is lacking compared to the rest of the world?
A.
I think that there are still few environments that are overwhelmingly viewed with such severe eyes, environments that require severe results.
Powerful teams in Europe are always under strict scrutiny for about 10 games a year.
Depending on the result, there is an environment where, for example, what happens to the head coach, the whole team, and the association.
There is always a tough game here every year, and winning or losing there will lead to future team management, and it will be severely evaluated.
I think it is necessary to create such a calendar and environment.
Q.
Considering our build-up for the World Cup, I think League One will be pretty important this season.
However, is there any part that falls below the level at which the world's strongest teams are usually competing?
What concerns or issues do you have in terms of strengthening?
A.
After the 2019 World Cup, the main reason I decided to join League One was, as you just said, it would be difficult to continue with the Sunwolves.
In order to truly aim for the best in the world, it will definitely be the most important to raise the level of the domestic league.
It would be difficult to continue to strengthen the Sunwolves style, or the style that we were doing in 2015 and 2019, forever. I have to strengthen.
For that reason, it is important to raise the level of the domestic league.
I think the biggest issue for Japanese rugby in the future is whether the games and training there will be at the same level as the national team, and in extreme cases, whether the League One finals can be as intense as the World Cup matches. I'm here.
At the moment, as you said, there may be a difference between England's top games and League One's top games, but League One now has the world's top players and the world's top players. The leaders are coming and it's definitely a big evolution from the previous top league.
I think it's quite possible for a League One team to beat a Super Rugby team or a Premiership team if it's just one or two short-term matches.
The difference there is getting smaller and smaller, and I'm not pessimistic at this point.
Q.
Can you say that the strengthening of this World Cup is the first step when looking ahead 10, 20, 30 years?
A.
I agree.
Having made the move to League One, the national team is now on the verge of beating the top teams in the world.
In that sense, in 2023, I would like to leave the best 8 or better and take one step further.
Q.I think the best 4 will be your target.
A.
The national team and the head coach are training well and preparing well, and I think we are definitely closer to the top four in the world than we were in 2019 and 2015.
However, for example, Argentina did not enter the top 8 last time.
Even for a team that made it to the top 4 in the tournament two years ago, it's difficult to get into the top 8.
In order to achieve our goal, it is important to create an environment that is comparable to the current top eight countries, and whether the players and staff can spend their days.
In that sense, at least in terms of programming, I think we have put together a fairly forward-looking program.
Of course, I think there are still some gaps that we need to fill after 2023, but I feel that we are making progress.
Q.
What kind of enhancements do you have in mind for the World Cup in 2023?
A.
This time it will be an away match at the World Cup in France.
The national team will leave Japan to play matches, but I would like to have as many matches as possible in Japan until they leave Japan after League One, and train in a good environment.
I want to make it as painless as possible.
I think playing in Japan will be the least burdensome, so I want to create that kind of environment as much as possible and let the national team do all the preparations.
Q.
New Year's goals again.
A.
The national team will target the World Cup and will try to get results there.
Each game and practice is really important to them.
We, the staff of the Rugby Football Union, also want to do each job carefully and lead to the results of the national team.
I strongly believe that not only myself, but all the staff members should come together as one to welcome the World Cup.
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