Roundup: Japan vs Asia Pacific Dragons

A roundup of the Asian 5 Nations warm up game between where Japan's second string fell to a defeat against Asia Pacific Dragons.

 Japan (22) 29

   Asia Pacific Dragons (14) 35

Japan fell to a defeat in their warm up friendly against the Asia Pacific Dragons, a Barbarians style side made up of players from Japan, Korea, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga plus an ex Wallaby and All Black. The Cherry Blossoms started the better taking a 15-0 lead, and were 22-14 up at half time. However the Asia Pacific Dragons, coached by All Blacks legend Tana Umaga, came back into the game and won the second half 21-7.

Despite the defeat, the game will have likely been of far more use for coach Eddie Jones than the upcoming Asian 5 Nations, which has recently been dropped by it's sponsor due to it's uncompetitiveness, and indeed Jones was positive in his comments after the match.

The game was a good opportunity for Jones to test out his depth. Apart from the back row and the locks who were first choice, all the rest of the team were either second or third string players.

The lack of depth behind the first choice team in Japan has been an issue, and getting the second and third string players higher level matches has been an important part of Eddie Jones' strategy. He has fielded experimental sides against the likes of Gloucester, a Basque XV and the French Barbarians 3 times, since taking charge. However his second stringers have yet to win any of them, and one of the losses to the French Barbarians led to Jones launching his infamous tirade against his team, at least his players were closer to a win and escaped that this time around.

Although the defeat  will be disappointing, the game will benefit Japan and Jones who will have learnt more about some of his reserve players credentials to play in more important matches later in the year. The Japanese system is probably the worst in the world for young developing talent, and this game will have been one of the first for talented youngsters who have been stuck in the University system like Ryoto Nakamura will have played against a player of the experience and calibre of Seilala Mapusua.

On another point, although a big crowd to see a largely reserve Japan side play a warm up game, a crowd of just 3,635 reiterated the concerns over the poor crowds in Japan in the build up to the 2019 World Cup.

Japan: 15 Y Fujita; 14 A Yamada, 13 D Murata, 12 R Nakamura, 11 K Ishii (K Matsushima 49); 10 T Hirose (Y Hayashi 60-63, 67), 9 A Hiwasa (K Ushida 73); 1 Y Nagae (H Hirashima 45), 2 T Kizu (H Yuhara 74), 3 T Asahara (K Hatakeyama 46); 4 H Ono (J Ives 60), 5 S Makabe; 6 H Tui, 7 M Leitch (c), 8 R Holani (K Horie 73).
Tries (4): Makabe (10), Yamada (19), Tui (35), Fujita (73) Conversions (3): Nakamura (20, 36, 74) Penalty (1): Nakamura (24) Sin Bin: Makabe (71)

Asia Pacific Dragons: 15 T Ko; 14 K So, 13 R Caucaunibuca (S Ramuwai 49), 12 S Mapusua (T Iguchi 64), 11 V Sokiveta; 10 T Pisi, 9 H Seniloli; 1 T Sugawara (P Ravai 40), 2 H Izumi (M Le 40), 3 A Sung (S Pulu 40); 4 M Tamaya (H T-Pole 63), 5 I Ross; 6 T Taufa (T Miuchi 58), 7 N Latu (c), 8 R Samo.
Tries (4): So (26), Pisi (28), Ramuwai (58), Latu (78) Conversions (3): Ko (27, 29, 59) Penalties (2): Ko (49, 70) Drop Goal: Pisi (64)

Referee: Akihisa Aso (Japan) | Venue: Hanazono Stadium, Higashiosaka, Osaka | Attendance: 3,635