Rugby World Cup 2019: Japan take on Russia in the tournament opener, how to watch
Russia plan to spoil Japan’s big day by bringing “chaos” to the opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Live match centre and stream information.
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Russia plan to spoil Japan’s big day by bringing “chaos” to the opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The Brave Blossoms begin their home tournament by hosting Lyn Jones’ side in Tokyo on Friday, raising the curtain on six weeksof rugby which culminate in the final in Yokohama on November 2.
WHAT: Japan v Russia
TIME: 7:45pm AEDT
TV: Stream live on Kayo
Don’t miss a second of any of the action from the 2019 Rugby World Cup with Kayo.
But Russia - beaten 85-15 by Italy during a warm-up programme that also saw them lose to Connacht and Jersey - hope to springa surprise by inflicting a defeat that would do serious damage to Japan’s ambition of making it out of a pool that also features Ireland, Scotland and Samoa.
“We watched the last four or five games of Japan,” said Russia captain Vasily Artemyev in quotes reported by the tournament’s official website. “They have a very structured,organised game.
“We need to bring chaos into their organisation.” Japan coach Jamie Joseph has made seven changes to the side beaten 41-7 by South Africa earlier this month.
Joseph’s men had to overturn a 22-10 half-time deficit to win 32-27 when these sides last met in Gloucester in November andcaptain Michael Leitch admits the nerves have been evident in training.
“I’m so nervous I’ve been making all sorts of mistakes in training - there’s so many people and so many cameras,” he tolda press conference. “But I’m very proud to be part of the World Cup and to be captain of the Japan rugby team.
“We have a lot of respect for Russia and we were very lucky to win last time we played them.
“I wouldn’t say we were favourites - I’d say we were even going into this Test match and if we don’t play our best we’re goingto struggle.”
Originally published as Rugby World Cup 2019: Japan take on Russia in the tournament opener, how to watch