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Japan coach John Kirwan urged media and fans not to write off his team after their one-sided defeat to New Zealand, but to suspend judgement until after the World Cup.
Kirwan, who watched as the Asian and Pacific champions were thrashed 83-7 late on Friday, insisted Japan’s tournament was only just beginning with games against Tonga and Canada to come.
“I think we should be judged at the end of the tournament. Our next two games are very, very important so we should be judged at the end of the next two games,” Kirwan said.
Japan succumbed bravely to France in their opening game but a second-string line-up fared less well against the All Blacks, who hit form with a 13-try rout featuring 11 different scorers.
Kirwan said the loss, which evoked memories of big World Cup defeats to Wales, Australia and New Zealand, was an important lesson for his young players and did not undermine their bid to be the tournament’s most improved team.
“We’ve had a goal for the last two years to win two games at the World Cup and we would like to be the most improved,” said Kirwan, who lifted the World Cup as an All Blacks winger in 1987.
“I don’t think the scoreline was fantastic tonight but we’ve got a really big challenge with Tonga and Canada coming up so for us it’s really that we get up tomorrow, put this game behind us and move into the next one.”
Kirwan singled out scrum-half Atsushi Hiwasa, flankers Itaru Taniguchi and Michael Leitch, and winger Takehisa Usuzuki, saying they would play at the next World Cup – four years before Japan hosts the 2019 edition.
“I was excited about tonight and so it’s really important that we keep our momentum. The guys get up and get into the next two games,” he said.
“I think it was a good lesson for us. We had some positives through the evening and our World Cup starts now,” added Kirwan.
Japan will revert to their strongest line-up for Wednesday’s clash with Tonga as they seek only their second World Cup win, 20 years after beating Zimbabwe. Their final Pool A outing is against Canada on September 27.
The All Blacks can put 60 (points) on any team in the world,” Kirwan said. “The boys didn’t give up, the structures were there. We need to get out and look forward to Tonga.”
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.