The Roar
The Roar

Rugby
Advertisement

Rugby World Cup minnows: Part 2
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
26th August, 2015
5
Join the conversation
Advertisement
Write for The Roar

Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work featured alongside some of Australia’s most prominent sports journalists.

Can the Japanese spring a few surprises in the World Cup? (Photo credit David Davies/PA Wire.)
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
26th August, 2015
5

Following on from our look at the Rugby World Cup minnows in Pool A, we’ll identify the unlikely heroes from Pool B – Japan and the USA – and highlight a few players to keep your eyes on.

Japan
A team that is very close to shaking the minnow tag, the Brave Blossoms have a good mix of youthful players and experienced campaigners. Japan have the best chance of any of the minnows to pull off a couple of upset victories and even sneak their way into the finals.

Fumiaki Tanaka
Standing at a mere 166 centimetres and weighing just 76 kilograms, Tanaka is the first Japanese player to play in Super Rugby (with the Highlanders). Despite being possibly the smallest player in international rugby Tanaka is a world-class player who uses his size to his advantage. There is a reason the halfback has 46 caps for Japan.

Hitoshi Ono
The Japanese Brad Thorne. The 37-year-old lock is the most capped Japanese player of all time (91). Ono hasn’t missed a game for Japan since Eddie Jones took over as coach. His experience and work at the lineout will be vital to the Brave Blossoms’ campaign.

Ayumu Goromaru
The fullback has had a stop-start international career. He burst onto the international scene as a 19-year-old and was dubbed a player of the future, before dropping off the radar. Now, 10 years after his debut, he has finally nailed down a starting spot in the Japanese side. On his day Goromaru is an excellent kicker and has won his team some unlikely victories with his accurate goal kicking.

USA
With the United States’ large population, it’s only a matter of time before they become a power in the international rugby scene. That time is still a World Cup or two away, but they have already produced some quality players.

Takudzwa Ngwenya
The Zimbabwe-born winger first burst onto the international rugby scene in the 2007 World Cup, scoring the try of the tournament with a sidestep that left South African winger Bryan Habana clutching at thin air. Now aged 30, Ngwenya might have lost a bit of his top end speed but he is still capable of leaving opposition players on their arse with his dazzling side step.

Blaine Scully
A world-class winger who wouldn’t look out of place in a top tier team. Scully is very strong defensively – in the USA versus All Blacks game last year he made some excellent defensive reads and try-saving tackles. Keep an eye out for his edge combination with USA captain and fullback Chris Wyles.

Advertisement

Scott LaValla
Every team needs a workhorse, and for the USA it’s LaValla. The hard working flanker/lock tackles anything that moves. He has plenty of big game experience, playing for Stade Français in the Top 14 and in the last World Cup. If the game is on the line, the players will look to the tireless LaValla for inspiration.

So, Roarers, are there are any Japanese or USA players you think we should look out for?
In the next article, I’ll be looking at the minnows of Pool C – Georgia and Namibia.

Follow Jamieson on twitter – @jamiesonmurph

5
Join the conversation

Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast.  If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp.  Chances are you’re about to lose.  Set a deposit limit.

Related Posts

close