Healthy respect for Japan

Press, 30 May 1987, Page 80

Healthy respect for Japan

NZPA-AAP Sydney The spectre of Japan’s half-time 12-6 lead over England at Twickenham in the (northern) winter of 1986 looms heavily over captain Mike Harrison’s line-up on the eve of their rugby World Cup clash at Concord Oval in Sydney tomorrow. The England manager, Mike Weston, had a healthy respect for the men of Nippon after that near disaster.

“We got out of it with a second half revival, but it was a near thing,” Mr Weston said yesterday as England wound up their training. “They combine very well, have great organisation and commitment — on top of that are

incredibly fit and good in the loose and on the ground.”

The lack of height of the Japanese should tell against them more.

“But they have some great lineout ploys to get possession to offset their jumping handicap,” he said.

“I saw the game when the Americans just shaded them in Brisbane and we have watched video of the clash.”

Mr Weston said the Sydney fans would see a side with the speed of the Koreans, but with greater skills.

England wants to win the two remaining clashes in their pool — Japan and the United States — to sew up a quarter final spot after the loss to Aus-

tralia in Sydney last Saturday.

The superb fightback by the England pack and the speed of their backline against Australia should see Mr Weston’s men safely into the Brisbane quarter finals.

The Japanese are expected to put pressure on the novice England fullback, Jonathan Webb, the replacement for the unfortunate Marcus Rose who left for England on Thursday.

The slim, lanky 23-year-old Webb came on after only two minutes of the game last Saturday for his first test cap in a torrid baptism of fire in the early Australian attack.