Japan 20-14 United States

Watch the match here.
http://www.universalsports.com/video/assetid=073bce5d-9e2c-48ed-8a67-4afaa8c7fa20.html#2011+world+cup+warm+usa+japan


http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3890_7116090,00.html

Takashi Kikutani and Takehisa Usuzuki's second-half tries powered Japan to a 20-14 win over the United States on Sunday in a RWC warm-up.

John Kirwan's side dominated the game with their physical play in the second half, shutting down the States to secure the confidence-boosting victory.

Playing before a partisan crowd at Chichibunomiya Stadium, Japan scored first on a try by Taihei Ueda six minutes into the contest, which began in a driving rain. Ueda took a pass from Alisi Tupuailai, who set up the score well.

Kevin Swiryn responded for the USA seconds later with a try to level the scores at 5-5. The States moved ahead 7-5 on the conversion by Nese Malifa but Japan retook the lead with a drop-goal from Ryan Nicholas in the 12th minute.

Paul Emerick then scored a try on a long uncontested run to give back the advantage to the Americans just before half-time. Swiryn added the conversion to make it 14-8 at the break.

In the second-half, Kikutani barreled through the American defence from just outside the try-line for a try in the 53rd minute to move the hosts within a point. Shaun Webb put Japan back on top 15-14 with the conversion.

Usuzuki extended Japan's winning margin to 20-14 with a try in the 66th minute.

Japan, who lost to Italy 31-24 in Cesena last week, made twelve changes for the match. USA coach Eddie O'Sullivan made eight changes to his side after losing 27-7 to Canada in Glendale, Colorado, last weekend.

Japan will face France in its opening Pool A World Cup match on September 10, while the USA begin their campaign in Pool C against Ireland the day after.

The scorers:

For Japan:
Tries: Ueda, Kikutani, Usuzuki
Con: Webb
Drop: Nicholas

For USA:
Tries: Swiryn, Emerick
Con: Malifa, Swiryn

The teams:

Japan: 15 Taihei Ueda, 14 Takehisa Usuzuki, 13 Alisi Tupuailai, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Murray Williams, 9 Tomoki Yoshida, 8 Takashi Kikutani, 7 Tadasuke Nishihara, 6 Sione Vatuvei, 5 Luke Thompson, 4 Hitoshi Ono, 3 Nozomu Fujita, 2 Yusuke Aoki, 1 Naoki Kawamata.
Replacements: 16 Shota Horie, 17 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 18 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 19 Itaru Taniguchi, 20 Atsushi Hiwasa, 21 Koji Taira, 22 Shaun Webb.

USA Eagles: 15 Blaine Scully, 14 Kevin Swiryn, 13 Tai Enosa, 12 Paul Emerick, 11 James Paterson, 10 Nese Malifa, 9 Mike Petri (c), 8 JJ Gagiano, 7 Louis Stanfill, 6 Patrick Danahy, 5 Hayden Smith, 4 Scott LaValla, 3 Eric Fry, 2 Phillip Thiel, 1 Mike Macdonald.
Replacements: 16 Chris Biller, 17 Shawn Pittman, 18 Nic Johnson, 19 Ryan Chapman, 20 Tim Usasz, 21 Roland Suniula, 22 Andrew Suniula.

Referee: Jérôme Garces (France)

Japan continued their fantastic World Cup build up.
Firstly they won the Pacific Nation Cup, finish top of the league above Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
They then pushed Italy hard in Cesena finally losing 31-24.
In fact they have only lost 6 of their last 29 capped games, and that is despite playing the Island teams every year.



http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3890_7117914,00.html

Japan have named their 30-man squad for the World Cup next month in New Zealand, where coach John Kirwan has set a target of winning two games.

The Brave Blossoms are the Asian rugby champions but boast only one win and a draw from their previous six World Cup tournaments, with eighteen defeats.

In the World Cup, which kicks-off on September 9, Japan will play France, hosts New Zealand, Tonga and Canada in Pool A in the first round.

"I think if we can get there and play incredibly competitive games against France and New Zealand, and then play Tonga and Canada, we will show the world how much Japanese rugby has improved," said Kirwan.

Months after he took the helm, the All Blacks legend, who scored 67 tries for New Zealand, helped Japan end a 13-match World Cup losing streak with a draw against Canada in the 2007 event.

Japan are currently ranked 13th in the world, above Canada at 14th and Tonga at 15th. France are fourth in the field led by powerhouse New Zealand.

Kirwan said Japan, who will be captained by Takashi Kikutani, have "improved a lot overall. I think this team compared to four years ago is much more complete. We have a good combination and we are stronger and faster."

He named a total of 10 foreign imports, including New Zealand-born fly-half James Arlidge and full back Shaun Webb, as well as players from Tonga, Australia and Samoa, saying "we need to use the foreign players to help our country get better".

"I'm happy with the side, it's a sort of stage four. We've been working for the last four years to put the team together and understand how we want to play. The team is very familiar with each other with a good mix of youth and experience."

Japan's World Cup 30:

Forwards: Hisateru Hirashima, Naoki Kawamata, Yusuke Aoki, Shota Horie, Hiroki Yuhara, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Nozomu Fujita, Hitoshi Ono, Toshizumi Kitagawa, Luke Thompson, Justin Ives, Takashi Kikutani, Michael Leitch, Sione Vatuvei, Ryukoliniasi Holani, Itaru Taniguchi.

Backs: Fumiaki Tanaka, Tomoki Yoshida, Atsushi Hiwasa, James Arlidge, Murray Williams, Yuta Imamura, Ryan Nicholas, Koji Taira, Alisi Tupuailai, Hirotoki Onozawa, Kosuke Endo, Takehisa Usuzuki, Shaun Webb, Taihei Ueda.

Japan seem to have had a good run going into this world cup.

Seem to have solved their flyhalf problems too.

Good thing about this is jk will ensure nz get at least one tough match.
He will want them firing against nz.

21 Aug 2011 Japan 20 - 14 United States
13 Aug 2011 Italy 31 - 24 Japan

Pacific Nations Cup Winners
13 Jul 2011 Fiji 13 - 24 Japan
09 Jul 2011 Japan 28 - 27 Tonga
02 Jul 2011 Japan 15 - 34 Samoa

Asian 5 Nations Winners
21 May 2011 Sri Lanka 13 - 90 Japan
13 May 2011 United Arab Emirates 0 - 111 Japan
07 May 2011 Japan 61 - 0 Kazakhstan
30 Apr 2011 Hong Kong 22 - 45 Japan

06 Nov 2010 Japan 75 - 3 Russia
30 Oct 2010 Japan 10 - 13 Samoa

Pacific Nations Cup 3rd Place
26 Jun 2010 Japan 26 - 23 Tonga
19 Jun 2010 Samoa 23 - 31 Japan
12 Jun 2010 Fiji 22 - 8 Japan

Asian 5 Nations Winners
22 May 2010 Japan 94 - 5 Hong Kong
15 May 2010 Japan 101 - 7 Kazakhstan
08 May 2010 Japan 60 - 5 Arabian Gulf
01 May 2010 Korea 13 - 71 Japan

21 Nov 2009 Japan 27 - 6 Canada
15 Nov 2009 Japan 46 - 8 Canada