Japanese players feeling nerves before cup opener
TOKYO: Japan halfback Yutaka Nagare has admitted he and some of the other Brave Blossoms are feeling the nerves before the opening match of the World Cup against Russia tonight.
As the team went through its final paces at Tokyo Stadium yesterday, the excitement and tension was palpable as four years of planning for Jamie Joseph’s side reaches its final stage.
Today’s matchis expected to draw a record domestic television audience for a
World Cup fixture.
The pressure is on for Japan as host, even though it is a favourite for the clash against lowly ranked Russia.
‘‘So many media have come today — it’s going to be a match that’s going to get a lot of attention,’’ Nagare, selected at halfback over Fumiaki Tanaka, a hero of Japan’s win over South Africa four years ago, said.
‘‘I’ll be nervous but this is a dream match so I hope to enjoy and play with confidence.’’
Japan is keen to play a hightempo match to take the game to Russia, which will prefer to battle it out in the forwards, and Nagare’s role as tonesetter for the Brave Blossoms will be crucial.
He knows what a key role he has.
‘‘First of all, I feel that I’m shouldering a lot of the responsibility. We’re playing in the opening match which is a match that comes with a lot of pressure,’’ the diminutive 27yearold said.
‘‘There’s the expectations of the team and also that of the Japanese people so I want to play well.
‘‘On the actual day, I think I’ll be nervous but I hope to communicate as best I can with the other players . . . so that we can bond well and so that I can control the match.’’
Joseph, who earned 20 caps for New Zealand before also playing for Japan at the 1999 World Cup, knows the experience within his coaching staff will be key to keeping a lid on the players’ nerves.
He can call upon former Highlanders head coach Tony Brown, with Japan as attack