Japan warn France they won't back down

Despite having never beaten France, Japan are planning to take the fight to Les Bleus in their Rugby World Cup 2011 opener at North Harbour Stadium on 10 September.

The Brave Blossoms have lost all eight meetings with the world's No.4 team, the most recent at RWC 2003, where they went down 51-29 to the eventual semi-finalists.

After the team's first training session on Friday, captain Takashi Kikutani said that Japan hold France in the highest regard, but the Pacific Nations Cup-holders are not about to be pushed around by Marc Lièvremont's side.

"We'll need to harness everything we've learned up to this point against France, who are ranked fourth in the world and are an amazing team," Kikutani said. "Our strength is pace so we want to play a fast game versus the French.

''We're not going to try anything new at this phase. We can only do what we've been doing all along - but at a higher level."

Right attitude

Japan coach John Kirwan, whose goal for the tournament is to win twice in a pool that also includes New Zealand, Canada and Tonga, echoed the sentiments of his captain.

"I never take the field to lose," said Kirwan, a former All Black great. "Of course we'll be taking the right attitude to the game. The Japanese have incredible courage and commitment.

"Playing at the next level, it's about adjusting. The French are used to high intensity and rugby at the next level. The French are used to many media and many cameras that don't happen to us all the time."

Kirwan said Japan, who will host the RWC in 2019, must be able to hold their own against the likes of France if they are to become one of rugby's elite nations.

"I love the French, I love French rugby and so do our players," Kirwan said. "This is the World Cup. You must play the best teams in the world and our goal is to be one of the most improved teams in the world, so that means we need to play well against the French, play well against the All Blacks and finish with two wins against Canada and Tonga."