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Weaponised Japan scrum on revenge mission after previous Bok humbling

Keita Inagaki has been one of the most consistent loosehead props in world rugby over the last four years. (Photo by Ken Ishii/Getty Images)

For the second Rugby World Cup in the row, Japan are boasting one of, if not the most efficient and influential scrum at the tournament, despite regularly giving up sizeable weight advantages to their opponents.

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In England in 2015, it was Eddie Jones and Marc dal Maso’s swift set-piece that prioritised quick ball and would hook down channel one, with the No 8 shifting over to be between the flanker and feed-side lock, that set the Rugby World Cup alight. It was a vital component behind Japan’s now famous victory over South Africa and loosehead prop Keita Inagaki and hooker Shota Horie were both excellent proponents of it.

Four years later and Japan are once again preparing to play the Springboks, albeit this time under the tutelage of Jamie Joseph and former international front row Shin Hasegawa.

Whilst the challenge will be a considerable one once again for the Japanese pack, it’s not one that they should be shying away from, having taken on and triumphed against the Irish and Scottish forwards in recent weeks, despite having faced their fair share of struggles against South Africa in the Rugby World Cup warm-up game.

“That showed what happens when we don’t do what we’re intent on,” said Hasegawa.

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“We’ve played four games since but there has never been a game we’ve been satisfied with our scrums throughout the 80 minutes. We need to have scrums that don’t give them a gap to exploit.

“I thought what was important was how many messages I can get across to the players, but Jamie [Joseph] said I was being too perfect. He said, let them do more by themselves, which will ingrain autonomy among them.

“He doesn’t actually say anything about the scrum in training. Now the players can adjust themselves during games. Sometimes I send a message across but they are already talking about it, so we’re heading in the right direction.”

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Just as they did under dal Maso four years ago, however, the Japan scrum will not be coming into the game without an idea of how to disrupt and counter the much heavier Springbok pack.

“Details. We have all the patterns to deal with different situations and the players understand them. We’ll get stronger,” concluded Hasegawa.

Japan and Hasegawa have previously prepared for heavier packs by their starting eight practising against 10-man scrums, something which captain Michael Leitch heralded following Japan’s win over Ireland earlier in the pool stages. The starting tight five in that eight will largely pick itself heading into the contest with South Africa.

Inagaki, one of the heroes of Brighton, has been ever-present in Japan’s starting front row at the tournament, bringing technical proficiency to each of the four pool games. He has been spelled by the distinctive shock of blonde hair of Isileli Nakajima who, although he doesn’t bring the same prowess at the set-piece, offers an enviable physical presence as a ball-carrier. Given Nakajima only recently made the transition to the front row, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

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Horie was given a brief rest against Samoa, though the 33-year-old hooker has started the other three games of Japan’s Rugby World Cup so far and he will almost certainly be front and centre when Joseph announces his team to play South Africa. A lot can change in four years and the Springboks are certainly a different proposition to the one that showed up in Brighton in 2015, but the combination and effectiveness of Inagaki and Horie is unchanged and as formidable as ever.

Where the Japan scrum will face some uncertainty is on the tighthead, with Jiwon Koo, who started the crunch games against Ireland, Scotland and Samoa, leaving the field on Sunday with what looked like a rib injury. Should he be unavailable as expected, that will open the door for Asaeli Ai Valu, with the Panasonic Wild Knight set to join his club teammates Inagaki and Horie in the front row.

In the second row, James Moore, another ever-present so far for Japan, will likely pack down alongside one of Luke Thompson or Wimpie van der Walt. In the games against Ireland and Scotland, Thompson was the man chosen to partner Moore and the 38-year-old has rolled back the years so far at the tournament. They may not provide the most ballast of any second rows in international rugby, although the Japan scrum has not been hurt as a result.

Once again, the Brave Blossoms will look to avoid engaging in a physical arm wrestle with the South Africans, in what would be a move that would play into all the strengths of Rassie Erasmus’ squad. Some of the personnel may have changed since that famous night in Brighton, but the game plan won’t have. As it has throughout this tournament for Japan, it will be all about pace, tempo and an eagerness to move their opponents around.

From a scrum perspective, Hasegawa is likely preparing his charges to get the ball in and out as quickly as possible, not only to negate South Africa’s brute strength upfront, but also to unleash the threats of Kenki Fukuoka and Kotaro Matsushima out wide, a tactic that not only saw off the Boks in Brighton, but also Ireland in Shizuoka much more recently.

Watch: Fans are divided over where Japan’s future should reside in international rugby

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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