Japan favourites for first Asian XVs title

Action from last year's game(Linda Olson‎ & Women's Rugby Connection, Hong Kong)

Fresh from their well-deserved27-12 win over Kazakhstantwo weeks ago, Japan now only have Hong Kong between them and their first ever Asian title. With Hong Kong losing to Kazakhstan in Almaty 40-0 a month ago, the result may seem a foregone conclusion – but home advantage seems to be attracting a significant premium in this year’s championship.

Moreover it is only a year since the Japaneselost to Hong Kong15-14 on the same ground, and in the same tournament – so nothing should be taken for granted. “Hong Kong at home are very, very strong" says Japanese coach Arimizu Takashi, who has called up players from the professional sevens squad for the championship to back up his fifteens specialists.

If Hong Kong were to repeat that triumph it might yet be possible for Kazakhstan to retain their title, as they currently have a bonus point advantage over Japan. And Hong Kong Coach Chris Garvey announced only three changes to the team that lost to Kazakhstan in Almaty (Chong Ka-yan, Lee On-yi and Shonagh Ryan making way for Ku Hoi-ying, Tammy Lau Nga-wun and Natasha Olson-Thorne) and remains is confident, despite the big defeat.

“We thought we were ready for Kazakhstan," he said, "but in our first international game for over a year we badly underestimated a side that plays in the World Cup. It was a very pointed reminder that we need to be better in all departments. Since that game, we have markedly upped the intensity of our training, and I am asking more of the girls individually. When each player gives their personal best, the team comes together and we can perform at this level. It’s going to be a very tough game, no doubt about it, but if all our preparations come through we can compete."“Japan are the team to beat; they’ve had great success in sevens and are a tough unit to break,” added Garvey. “I like the way they play – brightly with nice structure. We’ve been studying how Japan play and have been more thorough in our preparation for this match with a longer build-up time as a squad, including the sevens representatives. It’s going to be a very tough game, no doubt about it, but if all our preparations come through we can compete.“Our focus is for everyone to take personal responsibility to play to the full. In our last outing there were simply too many missed tackles and lapses in focus. Against Japan, the players need to all come together. If they do, this can be our day.”Hong Kong captain Christy Cheng Ka-chi said of the team’s preparations: “Our girls were upset after the loss to Kazakhstan but we realised that we have a few areas we need to focus on. We took the defeat positively and have been working on those areas. Japan play a fast game and look to get everyone involved with a lot of passing and movement. Kazakhstan rely more on individual ball carriers and their size and physicality.”Cheng called for a committed effort against Japan. “It’s going to be a tough match but I have faith in the team. It will require an all-out effort from the entire 23-woman squad performing at our best. It’s not going to be easy, so we need 80 minutes of focus and aggression.The Hong Kong squad pose for the cameras ahead of their opening match in the Kazakhstan capital.“We have the ingredients to come out on top as long as we execute,” Cheng added.The game is the first part of a double-header, with a men’s Asian championship decider between Hong Kong and Japan following the women’s fixture. Play at the Aberdeen Sports ground begins at 1pm (local time) and will bestreamed live by the Hong Kong RFU.

Hong Kong:1. Karen So Hoi-ting; 2. Royce Chan Leong-sze; 3. Tammy Lau Nga-wun; 4. Chow Mei-nam; 5. Wong Yuen-shan; 6. Amelie Seure; 7. Christy Cheng Ka-chi(captain); 8. Christine Gordon; 9. Sham Wai-sum; 10. Lee Tsz-ting; 11. Ivy Kwong Sau-yan; 12. Candy Cheng Tsz-ting; 13. Natasha Olson-Thorne; 14. Aggie Poon Pak-yan; 15. Adrienne Garvey; 16. Ku Hoi-ying; 17. Lee Ka-shun; 18. Melody Li Nim-yan; 19. Claire Forster; 20. Lo Wai-yan; 21. Lindsay Varty; 22. Dailo Lai Pou-fan; 23. Ho Hoi-lam.

Japan:1 Emi Ito (Nagoya Ladies ); 2 Maki Ito (Nagoya Ladies ); 3 Yuki Ito (Nippon Sport Science Univ. ); 4 Chikami Inoue (Rku Rugby Ryugasaki Grace); 5 Ayumi Inui (Hyogo Rugby School Ladies ); 6 Mizuho Kataoka (Nippon Sport Science Univ. ); 7 Riho Kurogi (Iwamichisuikan Hs ); 8 Seina Saito (University Of Canterbury University Of Canterbury); 9 Ayano Sakurai (Nippon Sport Science Univ. ); 10 Misaki Suzuki (Kanto Gakuin Univ); 11 Maki Takano (Nippon Sport Science Univ. ); 12 Ai Tasaka (Arukas Queen Kumagaya); 13 Honoka Tsutsumi (Saga Technical Hs ); 14 Miki Terauchi (Rku Rugby Ryugasaki Grace); 15Yumeno Noda (Fukuoka Ladies Fukuoka Ladies)Replacements:16 Raichieru Miyo Bativakalolo (Itabashi Yutoku HS ); 17 Ai Hyugaji (Yokohama Tkm); 18 Mizuki Honma (Nagoya Ladies ); 19 Mateitoga Bogidraumainadave (Arukas Queen Kumagaya); 20 Saki Minami (Nippon Sport Science Univ. ); 21 Azusa Yama (Yokohama Tkm); 22 Sayaka Yamamoto (Nagoya Ladies Nagoya Ladies); 23 Minori Yamamoto (Nippon Sport Science Univ. )