Japan v Australia
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@antipodean Cheika said in the presser that Hodge has been training to be the back up 10 for a while.
I don't like it, he has played about half a game at 10 in SR and no time there on test level, but who else is there really? Beale has been tested there and we can all agree he is better suited to a more roaming role.
Also twists my knickers that there are only two backs on the bench, a nine and an outside back, if someone goes down, it will be interesting to see how the backline will be suffled.
Other than that, it is a solid lineup and if Hodge does his job well, it should be a comfortable win.
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@higgins said in Japan v Australia:
Is that the Japanese test team or the Japanese Barbarians? There are an awful lot on names that don't appear to be Japanese.
There’s a lot of non-Japanese born rugby players that have been playing in Japan for many years now, so it’s not surprising.
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Going forward the Tongan influence in particular will get stronger in the Japan national team. Kids offered University scholarships etc.
I wonder too if more mixed-race kids like Matsushima will come through in years to come.
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@rugger-quizzes said in Japan v Australia:
Going forward the Tongan influence in particular will get stronger in the Japan national team. Kids offered University scholarships etc.
I wonder too if more mixed-race kids like Matsushima will come through in years to come.
The Tongans to university scholarship relationships are going to be particularly important for them once the 5 year residency rule kicks in.
Although the kiwis who go there do seem to stay on for a very very long time, but they won't be qualifying as 27/28 year olds like they are now.
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@higgins said in Japan v Australia:
Is that the Japanese test team or the Japanese Barbarians? There are an awful lot on names that don't appear to be Japanese.
TBF to Japan, from the looks of it they only look to have one more foreign born (going by names, not including Matsushima who was SA born) in their starting 15 then what the Wallabies do ...
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@higgins said in Japan v Australia:
Is that the Japanese test team or the Japanese Barbarians? There are an awful lot on names that don't appear to be Japanese.
I had been thinking the opposite when the squad was announced. Compared to some previous years the 'local born' quota is high
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Japan played reasonably well but struggled at set piece. Himeno was good around the field but your lineout is going to struggle at international level when you play a 1.87m lock!
Defended well in patches but lacking size all over the pitch.
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@kiwimurph said in Japan v Australia:
Crowd was 43k. Impressive.
Stands seem a long way from the field though.
About half the 2019 RWC stadiums are athletics stadiums, which will put a bit of a dampener on things.
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@kiwimurph said in Japan v Australia:
Crowd was 43k. Impressive.
Stands seem a long way from the field though.
You're Dylan Cleaver?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11940715
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Good hit out for the Wallabies but they won't be too pleased conceding 30 points.
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Only saw the highlights.
Hodge ran on to the ball well and got his backline moving. Not the fuck up most were expecting.
Japan have gone backwards since the WC and Australia seem to be getting what Chieka wants.
Could be a long evening for Wales next Saturday 😞
