Canucks seek to make amends against Japan

Japan may be known as the Brave Blossoms, but they have been a thorn in the side of Canadians since the last Rugby World Cup.

Four years ago, the Canucks failed to score a single victory in a RWC for the first time. And they remember the 12-12 draw with Japan in Bordeaux as the one that got away.

“It was a really disappointing World Cup for us as a whole,” said Canada centre Ryan Smith, who is playing his third RWC in New Zealand.

“We’d come off a close loss to Fiji, which we thought we should have won, we’d played some decent rugby against Wales for about 55 minutes and I thought we could have done better there, and to cap it off with (the draw) was a bit crushing."

Following the draw in Bordeaux, the team went on to lose their final match against Australia and finished with their worst ever RWC showing - three losses and a draw.

Painful memories

Smith is one of 11 men remaining in Canada’s squad from the side that played Japan at RWC 2007 and all have featured in the unchanged 22-man line-up that coach Kieran Crowley has played in Canada’s opening two matches.

The rematch in their Pool A clash in Napier on Tuesday is a chance to erase some painful memories.

“It’s going to be a big game for both teams,” Smith said. “Everyone has something to play for regardless of where they stand, but it’s going to be huge for us - it will define our success at the World Cup.

“They’re a very well-organised team, and they play very quick attacking rugby, which if you’re not organised in defence can really cause you grief.

“I think they have a number of very good key players in key positions, and that really shapes how they play the game. They are an amazing team. I rate them quite highly, and they’ve been a bit unlucky.

“Against the All Blacks, that was never probably going to go their way, but the other two games, I actually backed them to beat Tonga. They’re certainly one of the most quickly improving teams in rugby, I reckon, so I’m surprised (by their results).”

Stifling defence

Canada flanker Adam Kleeberger, who made his RWC debut in that draw with Japan, was a star in Canada’s 25-20 win over Tonga at RWC 2011 and is one of the players who have risen through the ranks in the past four years.

“It was an interesting game,” Kleeberger recalled. “They stifled us on defence for a lot of that game, and we didn’t have a lot of opportunities.

“Every time we had a bit of a half-break they shut us down, and I think we managed to score a try from a cross-field kick from a penalty - a spur-of-the-moment type opportunity.

“We definitely have some history and we played them a little bit more recently and we haven’t done that well.”

With pride and their first win at RWC 2011 on the line for Japan, the side coached by New Zealander John Kirwan has plenty to play for at McLean Park on Tuesday.

But for Canada, Smith and Kleeberger will be leading the chase to secure a second win at RWC 2011, avenge some demons against Japan in the process, and finish third in Pool A to automatically qualify for RWC 2015.