Tokyo Olympics 2021: Kookaburras wary of opening match against Japan

They might be gold medal favourites, but the Kookaburras won’t be laughing when they take on hosts and 15th ranked team Japan.

They might be gold medal favourites, but the Kookaburras sense they’ve been set up with a banana peel of an Olympic opener by going head to head with the host nation.

Australia’s softballers felt the wrath of Japan on the opening day of competition on Wednesday, falling to the mercy rule as the host nation skipped away to an 8-1 lead against the Aussie Spirit.

Japan’s love of field hockey fades into oblivion when compared to their obsession with softball but Kookaburras coach Colin Batch’s concerns remain the same – whether they’re ranked No.1, like the Japanese softball team, or 15th, as they are in hockey.

The emotions of being the host nation is a powerful thing.

“It’s clear for me that our first game against Japan will be a really difficult game – we knew that straight away when it came out,” Batch told News Corp.

“It doesn’t matter how well you prepare, the first game will be a tricky one. And playing early morning in Tokyo (9.30am on Saturday) against the host nation will be really challenging.

“We’re under no illusions that just because we’re well placed at other tournaments that we may not be at our best in that first game.”

Kookaburras Josh Beltz, Dylan Martin and Flynn Ogilvie. Picture: Che Chorley

Of course, there’s no crowd to cheer on the local heroes – and that provides challenges of their own for Australia’s stars.

But after 18 months of uncertainty, just being in Tokyo is a welcome gift.

“The Olympics are going to be different, but there’s still a gold medal at the end of the tournament which we’re striving for,” says Matt Dawson.

“There’s probably been a cloud over (the Games), there’s always talk in the media and you hear different things about it going ahead.

“But the AOC and the message we got from them from the end last year was pretty much that it was happening and that just gave us the clarity we needed to focus on and press forward.”