The world champion All Blacks arrived in Tokyo on Monday for their first Test match against the Brave Blossoms on Japanese soil and vowed to take nothing for granted.
“It’s important that we start the tour well,” five-eighth Dan Carter said at Narita airport before Saturday’s game at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo.
“We’ve got some really important games away from home so we have to make sure we continue the momentum that we have built throughout the season and play well,” he told Kyodo news agency.
The match against the Braves will be the first of four games the All Blacks will play in their northern hemisphere tour.
Coach Steve Hansen opted to send eight players directly to Europe to prepare for the France Test on November 9.
The full squad will also take on England on November 16 and Ireland eight days later.
Aaron Cruden, who led New Zealand to the junior world championship in Tokyo back in 2009, will join the squad later in the week for some promotional work before flying to France.
But there are still plenty of big names and World Cup winners in the 27-man squad, including Carter and captain Richie McCaw.
Carter said the All Blacks would not underestimate Japan despite their lowly No.15 ranking.
“I think Japanese rugby is on a high at the moment, the club competition is very strong and they had a couple of great Test matches against Wales.
“You know, they beat Wales in the last Test match so we have to make sure we do our homework on the Japan side so we can play well on Saturday.”
Since former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones took over the Brave Blossoms in April last year, Japan have beaten Georgia and Romania, their first Test wins in Europe outside of a Rugby World Cup.
In June, they upset an under strength Wales at home.
But Jones has been in hospital since a stroke two weeks ago, leaving his technical adviser and former Wallabies skills coach Scott Wisemantel in charge.
The All Blacks have faced Japan twice – at the 1995 and 2011 World Cups. Japan lost both encounters, including a 145-17 drubbing in 1995.
The All Blacks last visited Japan in 2009 for a Bledisloe Cup match against Australia, which they won 32-19.
shahsan
Guest
Thanks, Atlas. Fukuoka was outstanding in the Asia-Pacific comp in the northern summer. Let's see how he does against top-class opponents. If Japan can limit them to below 50 I think they would be pleased.
Chan Wee
Guest
"" Japan have named their side that will take on New Zealand in Tokyo on Saturday, with Fumiaki Tanaka and Shota Horie both named as starters. Under the tutelage of a stand-in boss - technical advisor Scott Wisemantel because of head coach Eddie Jones recovering from a minor stroke - the Brave Blossoms will be keen to cause a shock. Japan come into the game on the back of wins over Wales, Canada and USA and have named Harumichi Tatekawa at ten alongside Tanaka. Craig Wing and Male Sau will form the centre partnership while New Zealand-born forward Michael Broadhurst is on the openside flank. Japan: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Toshiaki Hirose, 13 Male Sau, 12 Craig Wing, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Shoji Ito, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Masataka Mikami. Replacements: 16 Yusuke Aoki, 17 Yusuke Nagae, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Luke Thompson, 20 Takashi Kikutani, 21 Kosei Ono, 22 Yu Tamura, 23 Yoshikazu Fujita. Date: Saturday, November 2 Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo Kick-off: 14:00 local (05:00 GMT) Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa) Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Andrew Lees (Australia) TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia) ""
Chan Wee
Guest
" ENGLAND (probable): Brown; Ashton, Tomkins, Twelvetrees, Yarde; Farrell, Dickson; M Vunipola, T Youngs, Cole; Lawes, Launchbury; Wood, B Vunipola, Robshaw (capt). Substitutes: Marler, Wilson, Hartley, Attwood, Morgan, B Youngs, Flood, Foden." 22, 12, 1, 4, most probably will face Auzzy. But that is nothing compared to the 2011 Baby Blacks ; in addition to those in the tour party there are guys like Brad Shields and Ben T who were in the wider training group. But most unlucky guy is Gareth Anscombe (the highest points scorer of 2011 JRWC) and leading points scorer of last S15 in NZ, who always pics up injuries at the time of squad selection. Also interesting is the twist of fortunes; GA was fly half and BB was full back in 2011. Now at least in super , GA is full back and BB is fly half :)
Chan Wee
Guest
Japan have named their side that will take on New Zealand in Tokyo on Saturday, with Fumiaki Tanaka and Shota Horie both named as starters. Under the tutelage of a stand-in boss - technical advisor Scott Wisemantel because of head coach Eddie Jones recovering from a minor stroke - the Brave Blossoms will be keen to cause a shock. Japan come into the game on the back of wins over Wales, Canada and USA and have named Harumichi Tatekawa at ten alongside Tanaka. Craig Wing and Male Sau will form the centre partnership while New Zealand-born forward Michael Broadhurst is on the openside flank. Japan: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Toshiaki Hirose, 13 Male Sau, 12 Craig Wing, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Shoji Ito, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Masataka Mikami. Replacements: 16 Yusuke Aoki, 17 Yusuke Nagae, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Luke Thompson, 20 Takashi Kikutani, 21 Kosei Ono, 22 Yu Tamura, 23 Yoshikazu Fujita. Date: Saturday, November 2 Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo Kick-off: 14:00 local (05:00 GMT) Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa) Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Andrew Lees (Australia) TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)
atlas
Guest
some - you've got me there, how many in current England squad? Rugby's about 5th sport-wise for me, try to follow NZ/Australia and Thailand rugby, get French Top 14 on tv here . . . limited re UK teams/backgrounds. But my point, and yours I, is that it's good to see players progress through the levels - see my post a few down re Jeffery Toomaga-Allen. When i lived in NZ I refereed 4 yrs in Wellington, reffed Nonu club level (and possibly earlier at highschool too) , and saw his AB debut (lost v England), makes it a bit more interesting knowing their 'heritage'.
atlas
Guest
Japan: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Toshiaki Hirose, 13 Male Sau, 12 Craig Wing, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Shoji Ito, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Masataka Mikami. Subs: 16 Yusuke Aoki, 17 Yusuke Nagae, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Luke Thompson, 20 Takashi Kikutani, 21 Kosei Ono, 22 Yu Tamura, 23 Yoshikazu Fujita. I wondered where Michael Leitch had gone to - 29 caps for Japan; broke his leg playing v Fiji in June, maybe still not fully recovered.
Chan Wee
Guest
See any familiar names, ATLAS ? England U20 team v New Zealand: 15) Ben Ransom (Saracens) 14) Andy Short (Worcester Warriors) 13) Elliot Daly (London Wasps) 12) Owen Farrell (Saracens) 11) Christian Wade (London Wasps) 10) George Ford (Leicester Tigers) 9) Chris Cook (Bath Rugby) 1) Mako Vunipola (Saracens) 2) Mikey Haywood (Northampton Saints) 3) Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks) 4) Joe Launchbury (London Wasps) 5) Charlie Matthews (Harlequins) 6) Sam Jones (London Wasps) 7) Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors) 8) Alex Gray (Captain) (Newcastle Falcons) Replacements: 16) Rob Buchanan (Harlequins) on for Mikey Haywood 73 mins 17) Will Collier (Harlequins) on for Henry Thomas 61 mins 18) Sam Twomey (Harlequins) on for Matt Kvesic 75 mins 19) Matt Everard (Leicester Tigers) on for Same Jones 73 20) Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby) on for Chris Cook 61mins 21) Ryan Mills (Gloucester Rugby) on for Owen Farrell 49 mins 22) Marland Yarde (London Irish) on for Andy Short 43 mins
Chan Wee
Guest
Good one :) Am sure there must be some rugger historians out there who could come up with such facts ..... In the ESPN Crickinfo site, there are various XI's compiled by contributers. The latest one is guys who play against their home country (like KP and Eoin Morgn , etc).
Shahsan
Guest
Any news yet on japan's starting team?
atlas
Guest
yes, 'caps' can be so misleading - ref to my earlier post / example about Graham Mourie - on South America tour played eight matches in four weeks, no subs in those days, all eighty-minute efforts, as did most of the players of that era Trivia time - I think Marty Berry holds the record for 'shortest time to earn an All Black test cap' - he never played another test for NZ but did play 9 more tour matches 1986 & 1993. "Berry's All Black debut in the third test against the Wallabies in 1986 at Eden Park was one of the most remarkable in All Black history. He came on only for the last minute to replace injured first five eighth Frano Botica. As he arrived on the field, David Campese crossed for the final Wallabies' try. Berry's only involvement was to stand behind the goal-line for the conversion attempt and then to vainly chase the All Black halfway kickoff which was immediately taken into touch for fulltime to be called." Sure he's not the only one-minute wonder of international rugby.
atlas
Guest
Internet streaming coverage if you're keen http://www.vipboxsports.me/sports/rugby.html also England v Australia
Chan Wee
Guest
@ atlas : Ditto that the number of caps has no obvious meaning , unless it is coupled with minutes played. Remember seeing both stats on some website (which i've already forgotten :( ) TKB for example is starting for first time , despite the 10 caps. Mccaw may be averaging over 60 minutes for each of his 120 caps !!! The most interesting will be "Thrush & Bird" in 2nd row. :) Is it a first as well ? :P :D It is as good as HORE playing HOOKER :P :D cheers
atlas
Guest
cheers - didn't know that (best excuse - I was too young!) Had to look it up - the SA tour was a huge 24 matches; it ran 30 Jun - 18 Sept 1976 then Mourie's team headed away 12 Oct to 9 Nov 1976 a lot of AB jerseys that year And - who did win the NPC that year?
allblackfan
Guest
dsat24, fiumaki will see it as a chance for payback for the haircut aaron smith gave him during the super rugby season this year!
atlas
Guest
yes MOAman you have cause to celebrate that one! Dominic Bird I hope has a long future in front of him, at 22 Height 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in), Weight 112 kg (17 st 9 lb) Another success from the 2011 NZ U-20 team that won the JWC. From that team the following players are in this AB squad - Dominic Bird, Sam Cane, Steven Luatua, Brodie Rettalick, Luke Whitelock, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Charles Piutau, Francis Saili Beauden Barrett was fullback in that team, back at 15 for this match v Japan
atlas
Guest
another thread stated 600 as being the optimal number of caps for a test team; well this team has 498 (quick count), but 299 of them held by three players - McCaw, Carter, Hore. The other 20 players have 199 between them, and most of those would be 'off the bench' caps, many less than 10min playing time. About that theory again . . .
moaman
Guest
Bird and Thrush to become fully-fledged ABs in same match! ;-)
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Kerr-Barlow to start? Yuck.
atlas
Guest
All Blacks v Japan names- mix of old and new, 2 and maybe 4 new test caps if all the bench is used. At 2.06m, Bird will become the tallest All Black on record Captain Richie McCaw moves to number eight Luke Whitelock becomes the third of the Whitelock brothers to play for NZ; George (1 test, 2009) and Sam (48 tests, 2010 - current,) Starting XV: 1. Wyatt Crockett (20),. Dane Coles (11), 3. Ben Franks (29), 4. Jeremy Thrush (4), 5. Dominic Bird *, 6. Steven Luatua (8), 7. Sam Cane (13), 8. Richie McCaw - captain (121) 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (10), 10. Daniel Carter (97), 11. Frank Halai *, 12. Francis Saili (1), 13. Ben Smith (22), 14. Charles Piutau (7), 15. Beauden Barrett (14) Reserves: 16. Andrew Hore (81), 17. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen *, 18. Charlie Faumuina (14), 19. Brodie Retallick (21), 20. Luke Whitelock *, 21. Aaron Smith (22), 22. Tom Taylor (2), 23. Ryan Crotty (1)
DC-NZ
Guest
Oh by the way Ma'a Nonu made the New York Times last week http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/10/22/sports/rugby/22reuters-rugby-zealand-nonu-blues.html?WT.mc_id=AD-D-E-OTB-INTSP-1009&WT.mc_ev=click81809600000&WT.mc_c=__CAMP_UID__&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=13&bicmet=1385787600000&_r=0