A wary South Africa are unsure of what lies in wait for them when they take on Japan, but are conscious of the need for a bright start in their opening Rugby World Cup game in Brighton on Saturday.
While the outcome is not in doubt -- Japan have a single victory in 24 matches in seven World Cups -- the Springboks have spent the last days warning everyone their respect for Japan and what they expect will be a different approach.
"For a start the contact point is a half to a metre lower. They do the chop tackle, which we are not very familiar with; there are only one of two players in the whole Super Rugby competition who tackle below the knee but it's the other way round in Japan," said South African loose forward Schalk Burger, who plays for Suntory Sungoliath. "Secondly the speed of the game, they like to play at a high tempo."
Fourie du Preez, the other Springbok playing club rugby in Tokyo, added that Japan’s pace make them “ruck-to-ruck probably the best in the world”.
Like a final
“Each of these games is like a final,” coach
Heyneke Meyer
said.
Japan have prepared extensively, driven by the expertise of former Australia coach Eddie Jones, with an expansive list of warm-up internationals.
They beat a depleted Wales two years ago and Italy last year.
But South Africa present a much higher challenge, with Japan hoping they can at least leave a positive impression.
“The most important thing will be whether we can believe in ourselves enough,” captain Toshiaki Hirose said.
Jones has made changes from the side that beat Georgia 13-10 in their final warm- up. Akihito Yamada replaces Yoshikazu Fujita on the wing and Hendrik Tui moves from the wing to number eight.
Flyhalf Harumichi Tatekawa drops to the bench in place of Kosei Ono, and Kensuke Hatakeyama replaces Hiroshi Yamashita, who is named as a replacement.
