Japan happy to be taking on France's best team

c'est la vie

Look - the Brave Blossoms will get absolutely belted by the Roosters - physically and on the scoreboard - but if they get through without any major injuries to key players, Kirwin will be happy. Kirwin has the right attitude for this job, and the key is to work on for/against and of course to beat Tonga and the Canucks so as to gain automatic qualification for 2015. Good luck Blossoms - get out there and throw the ball around and shock some people!

Is it just me, or does the "Brave Blossoms" name just sound wrong when applied to a rugby team? Like the "Proud Pansies", or the "Samurai Snowdrops" or the Battling Buttercups"?

I dunno lucabrasi - I reckon any guy that runs out onto a rugby pitch as part of a team named the "Blossoms" must be pretty brave!

"Proud Pansies"

ha! My state rugby team - New South Wales - is called the "Waratahs" after our state flower. Probably sounds a bit tougher than Blossoms I admit.

@Burakumin

I reckon any guy that runs out onto a rugby pitch as part of a team named the "Blossoms" must be pretty brave!

You're right. Almost as brave as a guy who runs out onto a rugby pitch as part of a team named "Scotland"!

Leeks, roses, thistles, ferns, proteas, palms, cloverleaves and... sakura. Plants are well represented.

Dont forget the AB's are represented by a Fern,

loving some of the banter on here guys, gotta be brave to run out as scotland etc lol

keep it coming boys, i been waiting 4 years for this tournament.

Dont forget the AB's are represented by a Fern,

I'll never forget how incensed my Kiwi mate got when I asked him why the ABs had a"white feather" for a badge....Apparently a "silver fern" is very different. I wasn't taking the mick, I honestly didn't know.... :)

lucabrasi hahahahaha a white feather lofl

How about Les Coqs Sportif? The Sporting/Sporty Cocks!!