WORLD CUP STARTS EARLY FOR ALL BLACKS
THE ALL BLACKS HAVE decided to head to Japan a year before the World Cup and have arranged to play a test there in November next year.
On November 3, they will play against Japan at a venue that will be confirmed once more details about where the All Blacks will be playing at the World Cup have been revealed.
With the next edition of the World Cup to be hosted in Japan, the All Blacks are keen to try to familiarise themselves with a country to which they have only had limited exposure over the years.
They will play Japan on their way to play three more tests in Europe – one of which will be against England.
Playing in the World Cup host nation less than a year ahead of the tournament has become a regular routine for the All Blacks.
In 2006 they played two tests in France where they would be based for the majority of the 2007 event, and also one in Wales as they knew they were destined to play their quarterfinal match i n Cardi .
In 2014 they took on England at Twickenham 10 months before they returned to London for the 2015 tournament. That year they also played the USA en route to the UK to set up what they saw as a replica of sorts of their World Cup draw.
They knew they would play Tonga in their final pool game before taking on three tough knockout games. So a test against the USA, then matches against England, Scotland and Wales provided a similar challenge.
A one-o test is a way to give the players some exposure to the on and o -field conditions they will encounter at the World Cup.
“Interest in rugby in Japan is on a high and will only build as we get closer to Rugby World Cup 2019,” said New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew.
“The test will not only provide a great opportunity to prepare for the 2018 end of year tour, it also gives the team first-hand experience of playing in Japan less than a year out from the tournament.”