Formbook tells in Asian Five Nations
The top two sides in Asian rugby, Japan and Korea, eased by their opening competition in today's first round of the 2009 HSBC Asian Five Nations Top 5.
In the day's first match, Korea gave a hard lesson to the newest competitor in the Top 5, beating Singapore 65-0 in Seoul. In the day's second match, Japan overpowered Kazakhstan 87-10 in Osaka.
Korea 65-0 Singapore
The two teams entered the Seongnam Stadium in Seoul with diametrically opposed targets as Singapore was intent on keeping the ball in tight to its forwards while Korea was looking to play an expansive match. Despite frigid conditions and a late drizzle that should have kept Korea from experimenting too much, the home side put on a beautiful display of clutch handling, support play and cross-kicking to net 11 tries on the day, five of which were converted.
Starting bravely, the Singapore Rugby Lions held the Koreans scoreless through the first quarter, but the Koreans looked threatening every time they had ball in hand and their stifling defence foiled Singapore's game plan of retaining possession.
In the 14th minute Korea's offensive threat became reality as flanker Lee Kwang Moon opened the scoring after finishing off a flowing movement with the ball going through a host of Korean hands in both the pack and the backs. Korea almost opened the floodgates then and there as from the kick-off a darting run by the scrum half Yang Young Hun nearly put flanker Lee Kwang Moon over again, but for a try-saving tackle by Singapore captain Ben Wheeler.
Making matters worse for Singapore, Mohammed Ismail "Izzy" A Kadir went down in the 22nd minute with a strained hamstring. The loss of Kadir, a veteran player capped 32 times and the current leading scorer in the Singapore team with 100 points, left Singapore to fill the gaps with 20-year old Goh Beng Chuan on his test debut. Predictably, the floodgates opened and by the 51st minute, three Korean players had each recorded a brace of tries.
Both teams rang in the changes in the second half, with Korea making liberal use of its bench at the interval. Despite the personnel changes, Korea ran in a further six tries after half time as Singapore began to show the effects of an afternoon spent almost entirely in defence.
Singapore exhibited flashes of what it will need at this level, putting a few nice phases together and the back row of Wheeler, Andrew Bennett and James Valintine was workmanlike in its defensive effort.
"It was a rough introduction to the Asian Five Nations premiership," said Singapore captain Ben Wheeler, who put in a tireless effort around the park, "but we had our moments and did put a few phases together. Those are the positives we can take from today and are what we need to build on to compete at this level."
Korea 65
Tries: Lee, Kwang Moon (2), Choi Si Won (2), Kim Sung Soo (2), Han Hun Kyu (2), Kim Keun Hyun (2), Cha Yo Han (1)
Conversions: Hong Jun Ki (3), Kim Keun Hyun (2)
Singapore 0
Japan 87-10 Kazakhstan
In today's other match, Kazakhstan played Japan in Osaka at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium. Japan showed that they have no intention of letting go of the trophy they won last year as they defied wet conditions to beat Kazakhstan 87-10 and remind the three other sides in the competition - Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore - that they are very much the team to beat.
Shaun Webb finished the day with 28 points courtesy of two tries and nine conversions (from 10 attempts) and there were also braces of tries for Ayumu Goromaru and Yuta Imamura. Japan coach John Kirwan said he was pleased with the start, even if it was somewhat scrappy in parts, but admitted there was still a lot of work to be done.
"We went out and tried to implement what we did in training and I am happy the boys tried to implement some of the new targets," he said.
"But I expect a 50 per cent improvement next week against Hong Kong and we need to make sure the systems are working and that we cut down on our errors."
The Kazakhs, who lost 82-6 in the corresponding fixture last year, competed well in the scrums and lineouts but were not nearly as fit or physical as their opponents.
"We wanted to slow down the Japan ball," said Kazakhstan head coach Valeriy Popov. "But Japan are an experienced team and know how to adapt to different situations."
Imamura opened the scoring in the ninth minute following a good half break by Webb and by the time Takashi Kikutani and Webb had touched down, the game was all but over with Japan leading 21-0 with just 17 minutes on the clock.
Denis Cherkashin reduced the gap with a penalty but that just seemed to fire up the hosts even more and a further three tries saw them go into the break leading 40-3. Bryce Robins increased the lead within a minute of the second half starting but the Kazakhs responded with Ildar Abdrazakov making the most of some weak tackling to go over under the posts.
That was the signal for Kirwan to bring on some fresh legs off the bench, with Tateo Kanai, Shinsuke Nakamura and Jack Tarrant all winning their first caps. Tarrant made it a day to remember crossing for Japan's 12th try in the 77th minute.
Japan 87
Tries: Webb (2), Imamura (2), Goromaru (2), Kikutani, Robins, Yatomi, Thompson, Leitch, Tarrant, H.Yoshida
Conversions: Webb (9), Goromaru (2)
Kazakhstan 11
Try: Abdrazakov
Conversion: Cherkashin
Penalty: Cherkashin
