Japan now ranked a top 10 nation, but don't get carried away

This week Japan reached the top 10 of the IRB rankings for the first time in their history, an achievement that has been regularly reported around the rugby world. But don't get carried away, there still remains a lot of work to be done to become a genuine top 10 nation of the world.

When Eddie Jones took charge of Japan he made it his goal to make Japan into a top 10 nation of world rugby, so in theory the IRB rankings say he has now done it. The reality is though that there is a difference between ranked by the IRB as a top 10 nation, and being a genuine top 10 nation.

If we're being honest, Japan's achievement is a slightly fraudulent one. Of the nation ranked above them, who have Japan beaten? Wales and Samoa in games where neither were even fielding many bench players, both had individuals who's international careers began and ended there.

Neither of those lineups were of a top 10 standard, so Japan have not truly toppled a top 10 nation yet. Their best win against sides resembling a first team was Italy last weekend with away wins against Canada and Georgia also notable, but not really enough to base a claim to be one of the top 10 sides in the world.

So media and fans alike should not get carried away with this supposed achievement. Since it became part of World Cup seeding, many pay far too much attention to the IRB rankings and give them far too much legitimacy. There's still a lot of work to do until Japan can start to argue to be a genuine top 10 side.

The World Cup fate of John
Kirwan's Pacific Nations Cup
winners is warning that some
achievements aren't as as great
as IRB press releases claim.

As a warning sign, we saw a similar thing happen with Japan when they won the Pacific Nations Cup in 2011 under John Kirwan. That was another achievement that lacked credibility, with the real best side in the tournament Samoa playing reserves while their first team was upsetting Australia.

Later that year Japan put in a total non performance against Tonga, and their winless streak in World Cup rugby extended to 18 and counting. Anyone who believed Japan were better than the Pacific Islanders then were wrong, just like anybody who believes Japan are a top 10 nation in the world now are wrong.

So considering that World Cup seeding a while away and that has no relevance to Japan anyway, nor does it really give them a claim for bragging rights over Fiji or Argentina for instance, is reaching the top 10 completely meaningless?

Well not quite as the IRB rankings largely being just a little add on with little real meaning certainly appeared to be the case, but it now seems possible they are actually of some relevance.

Samoa agreeing to make the test at
the end of May a full one was
perhaps not the smartest idea if
what Daniel Hourcade said is true.
Great for Japan's ranking however.

Recently the Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade referenced the test match against Italy last November as being of significance in order to stay in the top 10 as there is money related to it.

If that is true that there is a financial incentive then being in the top 10 is important, albeit not quite in the way that is being reported. Although it should be noted that money linked to the ranking hasn't been widely referenced or clearly stated anywhere, so it's unclear whether it is true. But if it is then sending a Samoa A side to play a full test at the end of May was an utterly bonkers decision by the Samoan Rugby Union.

In addition to vaguely referenced financial incentives, it also must be noted that the reporting of Japan reaching the top 10 in the rankings in mainstream rugby media has gained them a some more respect and acknowledgement of their improvements. Which is a nice thing for a nation has had their reputation as a side suffer as a legacy of some horrific past results.