Erasmus: Japan’s versatility their biggest threat

A hallmark of Japan’s World Cup campaign has been their variety in approach to their four different pool games of the competition. The tournament hosts managed to win all four of their pool games, which included claiming the scalps of tier-one sides Ireland and Scotland to end top of their group. 

In order to do that Japan coach Jamie Joseph mixed up his approach for each opponent which ended up being a masterstroke. Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus pointed this out as the biggest threat to his side as they prepare for their last 8 clash this coming Sunday.

“The most impressive thing about Japan at this stage is that they are varying their game. A simple example is last night against Scotland hey only kicked the ball 8 times but against Samoa they kicked the ball 32 times,” Erasmus said. 

“They’re a team that can adapt to the opposition very well. Against Ireland was a ball in hand approach. With Tony and Jamie and all of the guys they have there, they analyse opposition really well, play really well to their own strengths and their opponents weaknesses. It’s a very tactical challenge against them which makes them a really tough opponent.” 

Furthermore, the Springbok boss pointed to the makeup of the Japanese team and how their key players make big impacts to their style of play. 

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“Their number 9 is probably the guy who gets their game going. At the World Cup he is probably the quickest to the breakdown, he’s the fastest. Their flyhalf organises their game, he’s got a good kicking game, left foot and right foot. They’ve got two big centres who give them go forward and their wingers are fast,” Erasmus explained. 

“They’re such a well balanced team that it is difficult to single out one guy. You can see they’re aligned in their game plan and as a unit they’re a really formidable team.”

Kolbe and Herschel Jantjies expected to play

A big talking point at the start of this week was the availability of star wing Cheslin Kolbe and livewire scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies. 

Kolbe had been nursing an ankle injury picked up in their win over Italy while Jantjies picked up a hamstring niggle in their final pool game against Canada.

On Monday, Erasmus was confident that both players would be ready to train with the side and that was proved correct as both Kolbe and Jantjies took part in Tuesday’s training session at Fuchuasahi Football Pitch which is a stone’s throw away from the Tokyo Stadium. 

“Internally our team has already been announced and they will both be in the team. We will have our first full training session in preparation for Japan tomorrow. We’re expecting them to come fully through the training session. I would say both of them are 99 percent ready,” Erasmus said. 

Loveable Japan are the enemy this week 

Throughout the duration of the pool stages many of the members of the Springbok team have spoken highly of their trip to Japan. 

Every city they’ve been based at have adopted the Springboks and the host nation has just generally put on a fantastic example of hospitality. 

However given the nature of this clash and a spot in the semifinals up for grabs, Erasmus says the Springboks have to sadly see their hosts as the enemy.

 “It’s really tough not to like Japanese people. They’ve embraced all teams, not just South Africa, in terms of adopting you as a city wherever we have stayed, putting on South African jerseys and making you feel at home is something special which I have never experienced,” Erasmus said. 

“We’re playing for our country and we want to try and win the World Cup. Now for the next week, unfortunately Japan is the enemy. We love the country, we love the people but we have to try and beat them and we have to play really well to do that. “

The Springboks face Japan in the fourth quarterfinal on Sunday at the Tokyo Stadium. Kickoff is at 12h15 South African time.

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