Japan stands on the brink of qualification for the World Cup quarter-finals after victories over Russia, Ireland and Samoa, but still needs to get by Scotland to be assured of its place. Scotland was its nemesis in 2015 – when the Blossoms also won three times – most famously against South Africa.
This time the issue may be settled by a factor even more formidable than any opponent on the pitch. Typhoon Hagibis has already forced the cancellation of Saturday’s games, somewhat sensationally. Hopefully that will not be extended to Sunday, though it is the host nation itself which would stand to benefit from any such scenario.
If the Brave Blossoms do progress, it seems certain they will be the only nation outside the eight foundation members to reach this year’s quarter-finals. Fiji, Samoa and Canada are the only other second tier nations to have reached this stage in tournament history – the former pair on two occasions.
Further good news for Japan are the record TV ratings for the national team’s games. A peak audience of over 46 per cent watched the win over Samoa, surpassing the 25 million Japanese viewers who tuned in for the corresponding encounter four years ago according to World Rugby figures.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Should the Blossoms fail to reach the last eight however, we will have the first and only quarter-finals featuring the eight foundation unions since 2003. This – rather than typhoons – should be the international rugby community’s major concern as the group phase of the tournament approaches its conclusion.
The cry has inevitably gone up for Japan to be added to the Rugby Championship following their victory over Ireland. After all, the World League proposal tabled – and rejected – earlier this year included Japan and Fiji in the non-European half of the premier division. So why not just add them to SANZAAR?
First, there is the geography. Japan is the antipodes of Argentina and South Africa. The flight from Tokyo to Buenos Aires is 27 hours, and 19 to Johannesburg. That’s roughly the equivalent of London to Auckland and Sydney, respectively. Can anyone imagine Australia and New Zealand competing in an expanded Six Nations every year?
It’s a ludicrous amount of travel and would add to the already extensive distances the teams are required to cover. Have we learnt nothing from the Sunwolves’ involvement in Super Rugby? The Tokyo franchise was originally placed in one of the South African conferences and had to play half its home games at neutral venues. Needless to add, it was not successful.
Next is the culture and history. Japan has nothing in common with Argentina and South Africa beyond the fact none of them are in Europe. But is that really how the boundaries of international rugby competition are going to be drawn up in the twenty-first century? The southern hemisphere is already a vast enough geographical zone as it is, without throwing in anyone from outside the western tip of Eurasia.
Finally, there’s the standard of matches. There remains the question of whether Japan would be up to the task, especially in its away games. South Africa’s 41-7 win over the Blossoms in a World Cup warm-up suggests they would struggle. The latest results I can find for Japan against the other Rugby Championship teams are a 69-31 defeat to the All Blacks in Tokyo last year, a 56-24 loss to the Pumas at the same venue in 2016 and a 91-3 annihilation by the Wallabies at the 2007 World Cup in France.
(WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images)
Of course, Japan are not going to get any better without playing these teams on a more regular basis, and I am a proponent of more interaction between first and second tier. But simply adding them to a southern hemisphere championship already spanning three continents doesn’t seem like the most practical way of going about it.
Let New Zealand and Australia align themselves with Japan in an annual Pacific Championship instead. These nations do have a geographical feature in common and the Pacific Islands should also be involved. At the end of the day, SANZAAR always appeared more of a stopgap to usher in the professional era than a permanent arrangement and after quarter-of-a-century, the cracks are there and plain to see.
Perhaps a single-round southern hemisphere championship could be retained. But the novelty of annual Tests with South Africa and competition against its top provincial sides has long since passed. It’s time to seek a new model.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
Think GRR will look to add a Western Sydney team for 2021, also think that Kagifa will move to Hawaii. Maybe add in Sunwolves to make 8 teams.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
This could also be used for RWC qualification, removing the top 12 qualifying. Maybe make the groups 7 strong and have a split group in Europe. 6 matches over 7 weeks, with the top 4 in each group qualifying for RWC. Then 5th v 6th play offs for final 4 places.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Me too. But I'm sure glad the game went ahead now. No excuses. :stoked:
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Yes, if Twiggy's League proves a success it might prove tempting for the Australasian Super Rugby franchises to switch alliances.
JSJ
Roar Rookie
Hi Piru, I had not checked that site recently, but it is right up todate and looking good. The whole thing is coming together quietly without much fanfare or attention. The CEO looks good. Really looking forward to seeing GRR develop in the next few years. And Western Force are going great guns in the NRC.
ShaghaiDoc
Roar Rookie
I had been rooting for Typhoon Haggis but it seems the game will go ahead. In order to make sure Japan wins they could take a leaf out of the All Blacks' game book. I believe the Kiwis sneak some kegs of beer into the Australian dressing room for half-time celebrations. e.g. closer that thirty points to the All Blacks. If the Brave Blossoms could sneak a few crates of whisky into the visitors' dressing room it would ensure success. I have never met a Celt who could stay sober for 24 hours. The Pacific Nations Cup is already close to what is being suggested. Instead of the All Blacks the world's second rated team, New Zealand's Maori All Blacks, is included.
Emery Ambrose
Roar Rookie
Interesting Article Wingman. Really waiting to see where rugby goes the next few years, see what WR gets out of this WC. If you look at the Six Nations, i think that model of a local tourney has benefits for fans and finances. I wonder if North to South Zones would work, lowers costs, tv coverage, less travel and helps reduce player burnout. 4 yearly cycle Zone 1 - Canada, USA, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay Zone 2A - England, France, Ireland, Wales,Scotland ,SA, Italy, Georgia Zone 2B - Portugal, Spain, Russia, Romania, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe Zone 3 - NZ, OZ, Japan, Hong Kong, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, South Korea If not north/south then just continents, i think you need that local rivalry, easy travel for fans. I think the only way forward with franchises/Clubs/Provinces is a combo of private and union funding. Twiggy i believe will come into play in Aussie and maybe Pacific.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Andorra too. Tiny population but they used to be a fairly decent team. Now losing to Turkey, which itself has been decimated by about half the clubs switching to league (I wrote an article about this some time back). Yes, Moldova were top division at one stage, I think, or on the brink, with a couple of England-based front rowers. We thought they might be the next Georgia :laughing: But they and the Ukraine have really plummeted over the last few years.
Aussieinexile
Roar Rookie
Bulgaria result has been amended by Rugby Europe 71-7 is officially posted on their website. Moldova and Serbia in Free fall wasn't expecting those results.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
South Africa & Argentina in the Pacific? :laughing: Quadrennial Pacific Champs is not a bad idea though :thumbup:
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Thanks. Almost forgot: Croatia 39 Israel 10 Hungary 38 Latvia 13 Norway 3 Denmark 44 Finland 20 Moldova 15 Bulgaria 73 - Serbia 7 Turkey 36 - Andorra 12
Aussieinexile
Roar Rookie
I hope you are celebrating, good result for turkey.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
Combine this with regional Champs in the Sept/Oct slot same as RWC in the middle of the cycle. Have single international window for tours in Sept/October. Year 1 Lions + tier 2 tours Year 2 Regional Championship Year 3 Champions Trophy Year 4 RWC. Move 6N to July August, leaving club season as now. So for Euro Africa region club season would start beginning of November and go through to end of May with June and 1st half of July off, 7N in late July and August with then 2 weeks before international series.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Yep. Poached Kerevi at age 4. Kepu at birth. AAA at birth. Latu in primary school. Etc etc. In the end there are a lot of PI background people in Australia. Most came here looking for a better life. If their kids happen to be good at rugby then huzzah. For every Koroibete there are 10 Kerevis.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
They just had a tough draw, and it's a real shame Le Crunch won't go ahead because I wouldn't have been surprised if Les Bleus had won that as well.
Jacko, I think there is a miscommunication here. I don’t want SA to join Europe, I definitely don’t want SA in the six nations. What I want is SA to have a currie cup and the RC. What I believe is after listening to Authors over the past years continually suggesting SA need to move on and Australia and New Zealand align for a type trans tasman comp, that it would be best for them. The reason why I want the Currie Cup only even though there would be less money is because we aren’t retaining players now with Super Rugby, might as well then build 14 currie cup teams. The sacrafices now will be worth it later if we can build the Currie Cup into a similar stature as the French top 14
Jacko, What are you on about? I did not say I want any teams in Europe?
Jamez
Roar Rookie
Ok, I have to agree, I was being a bit harsh on the Pumas, hopefully they will come right. :thumbup:
ezdamouse
Guest
A pan pacific championship championship every 4 years, in the middle of world cup cycles (similar to UEFA European championship. Include 2 pools of 5 maybe (Australia, NZ, South Africa, Argentina, Japan, USA, Canada, 2 x Pacific Qualifiers, 1 x South American Qualifier). Winners of pool advance to preliminary final, 2nd and 3rd of each group play off cross group to advance to the preliminaries. Done. You have the strongest unions combined with some of the biggest developing markets.... We don't need the North.
Old Bugger
Guest
Now that, is some lateral thinking Jacko....but, do we know who owns the stadia?? Surely, it can work in a "mind over matter" scenario like "we don't mind if they don't matter...." but, I like the idea Jacko.....