Toony dismisses Japan coach’s claim that Scots are scared of humilation against Brave Blossoms
GREGOR TOWNSEND has laughed off claims Scotland will be out to “avoid embarrassment” in their typhoon-threatened clash against Japan tomorrow.
Brave Blossoms boss Jamie Joseph had been angered by suggestions the World Cup hosts would be pleased to see the climax to Pool A cancelled due to the imminent arrival of Typhoon Hagibis – as it would guarantee them a spot in the last eight.
World Rugby chiefs have yet to decide if the match at the International Stadium will go ahead as the 1400km-wide super storm closes in on Yokohama.
If it is axed then the result would be recorded as a draw and Japan would progress ahead of Townsend’s team.
But Joseph hit out at claims his team were hoping for a cancellation and insisted it was not a “fluke” Japan were top of their pool as he revealed their determined to prove they belong among the world’s top rugby nations.
He said: “Just in the past few days through the media reports I’ve read, they’ve undermined the achievements of the Japanese national team and the significance of Sunday’s Test for Japan.
“We’ve all earned the right to be considered one of the elite teams in the world.
“It’s important for us to wake up on Monday morning and understand we’re a worthy top-eight team or not. “The key difference here between us and Scotland is that we are driven and supported by the whole country. “My team is motivated by achieving something great – not by avoiding embarrassment.” But Townsend – whose side need a win of at least eight points to guarantee their place in the quarter-finals – refused to get drawn into a slanging match with his opposite number.
Townsend brushed Joseph’s comments aside and said: “I had a good laugh.
“You may know that coaches use press conferences to put messages out and to get a response from other coaches.
“Sometimes you don’t get to do your press conferences after the opposition so it was good to see.
“No, this is the game that a lot of people are looking forward to.
“We have been talking about it as one of those rare occasions where you get to play in a game that’s a straight shoot-out for quarter-finals, obviously with the proviso we score more than seven points more than Japan.
“This is a game against the home nation, so it’s a match you dream to be involved in.
“Regarding Joseph’s comments, I did see them. On one hand he said it’s no fluke Japan are at the top.
“But then he said it would be an embarrassment if we were to lose to the team who is at the WARREN GATLAND is happy to have a quarter-final warm-up rather than the extended break likely last-eight opponents France will enjoy. Wales have already qualified for the quarterfinals and will finish top of Pool D if, as is expected, they beat minnows Uruguay in Kumamoto tomorrow. That would set up a meeting with France, who have seen their ‘Le top of the pool currently. Japan are an excellent side and we’ll need to play very well to win.”
Townsend has made a major call with his team selection after deciding to drop skipper Stuart McInally to the bench.
And the Scotland boss has opted for Glasgow’s Fraser Brown at hooker instead, with Greig Laidlaw now resuming the captaincy.
Townsend added: “We believe for this game, and for the way Fraser has been playing, the balance of Fraser starting and Stuart coming off the bench is the right way to go for a number of tactical reasons.
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“And it is to reward Fraser’s really good form over the last three games.
“Stuart is not in his best form. He was much better against Samoa compared to the Ireland game.
“Fraser has been excellent since coming back from injury. We have seen Stuart improving in training and we believe that he can have a big impact in the second half.” Crunch’ clash with England in Tokyo cancelled due to the imminent arrival of Super Typhoon Hagibis.
Wales head coach Gatland said: “Some teams will welcome a break because it gives them an opportunity to freshen up.
“For us it’s about continuing the momentum and building on that.
“Hopefully after Sunday we can start thinking about getting down to Oita and preparing for a game against France. They would be tough but we have to do a job against Uruguay first.”