Coach Jamie Joseph

Pool A

World rank 10

Previous best Pool stage

Japan come into the Rugby World Cup as Pacific Nations Cup champions, a team who are clearly too good for the other perceived Tier 2 nations and who hope to add to their Tier 1 scalps.

Since their exploits in England four years ago when they became the first team to win three matches but fail to reach the knockout stages, the Brave Blossoms have played 31, winning 18, drawing one and losing 12.

While their record against the recognised big boys is 1-1-11, their record against teams generally classified as second tier is 17-1. But with home advantage on their side the Japan captain, Michael Leitch, is hoping the side can attain their goal of a top-eight finish and then go even further.

The 30-year-old flanker, who will be appearing in his third World Cup, said: “In my opinion, the only reason we would ever lose a match would be because we couldn’t execute what we aimed to do. I don’t imagine us losing because the opponent is stronger than us.”

“I hope to build the team so we can aim for the title. If we focus on preparation, we will be able to play consistently and the results will follow.”

Leitch will lead a side that contains a mix of speed, power and versatility – the latter the result of both necessity and desire. As their head coach, Jamie Joseph, said: “I am looking for players who under pressure can play different positions.”

A perceived lack of homegrown talent at lock means flankers such as Uwe Helu and Wimpie van der Walt will likely line up alongside veteran Luke Thompson, who was persuaded to come out of international retirement to make a run at a fourth World Cup.

“I love his experience and resilience,” Joseph said of the 38-year-old Thompson, who prior to his recall in July had played only one Test since 2015, when he was called up as emergency cover for the second Test against Ireland in 2017. Joseph added: “If you look at teams [who] have been successful at World Cups they have a good balance of experience and Thommo gives us that.”

In the backs, players such as Will Tupou, Rikiya Matsuda and Kotaro Matsushima are all capable of playing a number of positions with Joseph and the attack coach, Tony Brown, aware that Japan will need different gameplans depending on the opposition in the pool stages.

So what are Japan’s strengths? The back row – with Joseph able to call upon Leitch, Kazuki Himeno, Amanaki Mafi and Pieter “Lappies” Labuschagne – is a mix of athleticism and power, Kenki Fukuoka and Matsushima have pace and finishing skill out wide, while hooker Shota Horie and scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka have a wealth of experience.

Defensively, Japan looked much improved during the Pacific Nations Cup. But they will need to improve their discipline, particularly at the scrum. As Joseph said: “The players are prepared physically. It is about putting all those things into the game and executing under pressure.”

* Rich Freeman is a rugby writer and commentator based in Japan