The View from Japan: Show up or ship out

Thirty-seven pool matches, three cancelled fixtures and 12 fallen nations have brought us to the business end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The next team to win three in a row will be crowned world champions. The quarterfinal phase is arguably one of the best weekends of the tournament, simply due to the sheer volume of high-stakes, knife-edge rugby.

Few sporting rivalries share the scale of intensity than that of England and Australia. It extends over multiple sporting codes and has existed for over 100 years. For Australia, beating England is more than sport, it’s part of the Australian DNA. This is their seventh meeting at World Cups and that includes two finals. With the results locked at three wins each, this result will cause ripples for years to come.

England coach, Eddie Jones, will not accept failure as he knows his legacy is on the line. His shoulders must however feel like lead as the suffocating weight of English expectations stalks his every move. Australia is the underdog – a crafty, spectacularly talented underdog, facing an opponent that boils their blood like no other.

When looking back on this tournament, Ireland could well single out their loss against Japan as the moment it all unraveled. Ireland knew that either of their quarterfinal opponents would be difficult but they would have felt South Africa were slightly more manageable. The loss to Japan put Ireland squarely in the sights of the All Blacks.

New Zealand has done it all before. The team has weathered media storms, player crises, determined opponents and even their own slumps in form. They will know what will be required on Saturday and they have experienced the best Ireland can throw at them. The only question that will matter is ‘Do Ireland know what is required and if they do, do they know how to squeeze that out of themselves when standing toe-to-toe with the greatest rugby team of their generation?’

Wales have taken a measured approach to their tournament so far. They have done what was necessary, whether that meant turning on the style against Australia or slowly grinding down their less-fancied opponents. How, though, will they plan for the mercurial French? Wales have had the upper hand in recent years, winning seven of their last nine encounters, but crucially, one of those French wins was a World Cup semifinal.

France’s cancelled fixture against England will have robbed Wales of a chance to get one more look at their tricky opponents. The extra week’s rest could also provide that extra five to ten per cent that is needed in these tense affairs. Wales will have the pressure on them to deliver, which leaves the French in a position they will be very comfortable in – a position were they are free to express their unique, dazzling flair.

South African fans’ friendly support of the plucky host nation underdogs is over. Japan stands between the Springboks and their third World Cup crown and no sentiments will be spared for the admittedly astounding host nation. However, if the Springboks think they will just walk into Ajinomoto Stadium and bully the Japanese, they had better urgently reevaluate their situation.

Japan withstood similar tactics against the Irish and prevailed. They also outsmarted an intelligent Scottish team with aplomb, so they will be prepared for whatever Rassie Erasmus has planned for them. One hopes though that the hysteria of qualifying for the quarterfinals at home has not left Japan with a ‘mission accomplished’ attitude. Nothing less than surpassing their efforts against Ireland and Scotland will be enough for Japan to reach the semifinals.