rugby world cup 2019

Japan rugby captain Leitch still dazed after emotional night

8 Comments
By Alastair HIMMER

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© 2019 AFP

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The idea is that Japan doing well in this sport will generate interest in young sportspersons.

Yip - agreed. Japan has very good athletes... and tough ones as well. The current rugby wave of success will hopefully encourage some of them to take up the sport. One or two more wins in this tournament would certainly help!!

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The popularity of Rugby in Japan will depend on success/faillure of the national team in the world tornaments.

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I don't think so. Rugby is a physical contact sport, and isn't really suitable with Japanese style of playing sport; just look at how Japanese play soccer. Japanese soccer players use technical skills to pass ball around and avoid physical contact.

Even the current Japanese national rugby team is dominated by foreigners.

After the rugby world cup is over, the rugby fad in Japan will pass.

You’d be a finalist in the “missing the point” World Cup. The idea is that Japan doing well in this sport will generate interest in young sportspersons. By your logic, there’d be no Japanese in the national team. What are judo, wrestling, boxing? Japan is in them all!

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@Brian Wheway

I think its going to one of those sports that takes off in Japan

I don't think so. Rugby is a physical contact sport, and isn't really suitable with Japanese style of playing sport; just look at how Japanese play soccer. Japanese soccer players use technical skills to pass ball around and avoid physical contact.

Even the current Japanese national rugby team is dominated by foreigners.

After the rugby world cup is over, the rugby fad in Japan will pass.

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I have talked with my Japanese friends, and we was talking all about the rugby, it has stimulated quite a few people, and I think its going to one of those sports that takes off in Japan, especially after the match the other day, it was a corker of a match, may be they will stop doing these silly and dangerous pyramids team building stunts, mind you rugby can be a tough sport, team building, stamina, strength, exercise, motivation, so the question, rugby or pyramids? rugby every time!!

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this year is Brave Blossoms year. Go Japan.

Brilliantly stated. It is Brave Blossoms time. There is self-belief now they can do this!

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This team has had an amazing ride. Will it end at the quarter finals or will it continue? The Springboks of SA are an amazing team alright but this year is Brave Blossoms year. Go Japan.

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"Our self-belief has increased game by game," said Leitch, rippling muscles bulging through his black Japan uniform, and looking slightly out of place at a press conference held in a hotel chapel.

A great sentence for any number of reasons.

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