Jamie Joseph backs Japan’s Yusuke Kizu over ‘illegal’ Ireland scrum claim
Japan head coach Jamie Joseph has supported promises from prop Yusuke Kizu that Ireland scrummage ahead of their World Cup Pool A game in Shizuoka on Saturday.
Kizu has claimed that Ireland prop Cian Healy»measures out» and scrummages in at an illegal angle.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt insisted that his side have one of the least penalised scrums in the Test arena as he responded to the claim of Kizu.
However, after Japan had appointed their group, which saw group captain Michael Leitch’s demotion to the seat, Brave Blossoms manager Joseph consented that»at times they are illegal» in the scrum.
«I believe first thing, Kizu is a young guy, probably his very initial media encounter, so that would be the very first thing about Kizusan,» explained Joseph.
«We’re coming up against a really powerful scrum. Yes, sometimes they are prohibited, but at all times they are a scrum.
«We know that’s a difficult portion of the game, but we’ve actually enhanced our scrum and lineout lately and it is an area we have been focusing on all week.»
Hosts Japan conquer Russia 30-10 at Tokyo on Friday into kick-off the World Cup however the players announced that they were overawed by the occasion in a performance that is largely uninspiring.
Joseph admitted Japan will want»the game of their lives» to conquer Ireland and insisted skipper Leitch nevertheless has a major role to play, despite starting against the No 1 rated side in the world.
Pieter Labuschagne will captain Japan, with Joseph backing Leitch to really have an impact from the bench.
«What I believe around the sport, when it comes to our seat, we have got to have an effect,» added Joseph.
«If we’re going to be in a position to win the game, it’s likely to come down to the last five or 10 minutes and we’re going to need clear leadership.
«Michael has experienced an injury all year, he has only played four or five games, and he is a really crucial player. But we have a whole lot of quality loose forwards and players.
«It’s a massive match for us and all these players will need to play with the best game of their lives; that’s what they will need to be effective on Saturday.»
Joseph is currently targeting a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time as part of their legacy of Japan hosting the tournament.
«In terms of heritage for the tournament, on our goals, as a team we would like to do something we have never done before and that’s create the best eight,» he said.
«That’ll leave a legacy for rugby in Japan, but the quality of our play and how we do ourselves as a group is also important.»
Japan: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 William Tupou, 10 Yu Tamura, Yutaka Nagare; 1 Keita Inagaki, two Shota Horie, 3 Koo Ji-won, 4 Luke Thompson, 5 James Moore, 6 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Pieter Labuschagne (capt), 8 Amanaki Mafi.
Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Isileli Nakajima, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Wimpie Van Der Walt, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Lomano Lemeki.
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