|
|
| GAME
PLAN |
|
Holy salkow, Batman, Miki’s back! Yes, Japan’s very own Babe on Ice, Miki Ando, roared back to form in the opening event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, not only winning October’s Skate America competition in Connecticut, but overshadowing younger teen star Mao Asada, everybody’s current tip for greatness. Ando, of course, was panned after finishing a disappointing 15th at the Turin Olympics, but she’s lost a bit of chunkiness and taken her skating to a higher level; maybe now she will start to fulfill her promise. Next up on the calendar is the NHK Trophy from November 30 to December 3 in Nagano. Japan’s women skaters are hot right now. Catch them while you can. FV See sports listings for details.
|
By JPR Hastings
High hopes for rugby
Japan’s national team looks to move up a notch
 |
| ©2004 JRFU (photo
by H. Nagaoka) |
In 1998, England’s rugby team lost 76-0 to Australia.
Five years later the English left Australia with the Webb
Ellis trophy, the newly crowned champions of the world.
While it is expecting a bit too much for Japan to repeat that
particular feat following their own “Tour of Hell”
to Europe last November, there is a belief that good players
can only get better from such an experience.
Jonny Wilkinson described the trip to Australia as “undoubtedly
the quickest bit of learning I have ever done,” and while
it’s true that there were a number of players of whom
little was ever heard of again, others, such as Wilkinson,
Danny Grewcock and Phil Vickery, returned vowing to never
ever again be on the end of such a hiding.
Japan’s tour of Europe saw them get hammered by Scotland
(100-8) and Wales (98-0) before getting beaten by Romania
(25-10), and so inept was the performance that many who follow
the game closely hope and pray that certain members of that
squad are never seen again in a red and white jersey.
The recent tour to South America—in which Japan lost
24-18 to Uruguay and 68-36 to Argentina—was also tough,
but the performance of established players like Takuro Miuchi
and Daisuke Ohata (both highly thought of in international
circles), and the emergence of a new generation, has given
fans of Japanese rugby hope for the future.
Giving players such as Christian Loamanu (who at 18 years,
11 months became Japan’s youngest ever player when he
suited up against Uruguay), 19-year-old Ayumu Goromaru, and
recent Waseda University graduate Shota Gota a chance to play
in such an intimidating arena against two teams ranked higher
than Japan can only further develop their careers. Add in
the recall of Reuben Parkinson and inclusion of fellow New
Zealand Maori Hare Makiri, plus the long-awaited appearance
of Jamie Washington in the colors of his adopted country,
and there’s a belief that Japan could start reproducing
the form of Rugby World Cup 2003.
And they will need to, given that the long and convoluted
process of qualifying for the 2007 tournament in France begins
in May.
Grouped with Hong Kong and South Korea, the three countries
are scheduled to play each other in May—Japan hosted
Hong Kong May 8 and visits South Korea May 15—with the
top two then facing off again next year along with a team
promoted from the second division. The winner of next year’s
mini-competition will then automatically represent Asia in
France two years from now, with the runners-up forced into
a playoff with one of the Pacific Islands.
Before that, however, rugby fans in Tokyo will have the chance
to see the team take on three other “second-tier”
nations that also have aspirations to break into rugby’s
elite in the newly named Super Cup. Set up by the International
Rugby Board, the tournament—hosted by Japan—features
the Brave Blossoms, the US, Romania and Canada, and the games
will be played on May 25 at the National Stadium and May 29
at Chichibunomiya.
With all three guests ranked above Japan in the IRB standings,
a good performance will not only show that head coach Mitsutake
Hagimoto and his new French assistants Jean-Pierre Elissalde
and Edmond Jorda are on the right track, but it will also
set things up nicely for what promises to be the finale of
the international season—a two-test series against Ireland
in Osaka (June 12) and Tokyo (June 19).
Throw in the visit of Martin Johnson and John Eales to Tokyo
on June 10 for a dinner in honor of the former England captain’s
testimonial, and there’s plenty to keep rugby fans occupied.
And if the bookies are anything to go by, it could get even
better—albeit in six years time. May 13 is the deadline
for tender documents to be submitted for the right to host
the 2011 World Cup, and the clever money is on Japan beating
out New Zealand and South Africa.
With IRB inspection team due in June or July, the Japan Rugby
Football Union will be hoping for full houses and a performance
from the national team that tells the world that Japan is
ready to host the third biggest sporting event in the world.
It may seem like a tall order, but as Wilkinson, et. al. showed,
the road to success can take some pretty strange turns.
The Super Cup takes place in Tokyo
May 25-29. See sports listings for details.
Would you like to comment on this article? Send a letter
to the editor at letters@metropolis.co.jp.
Discuss sports
with METROPOLIS readers at http://forum.japantoday.com
top
|