Launchbury himself admitted that it was “embarrassing” to be given the gong, which was decided by a public vote on social media after the Rugby World Cup world radio feed’s experts nominated three candidates from whom to choose. Before this tournament Japan had played 24 World Cup matches and won just one – against Zimbabwe in 1991.
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“I’m exhausted”, he said after the 28-18 win over the United States on Sunday.
The 2019 World Cup is the first time the tournament will be hosted by an emerging rugby nation, meaning the courageous Blossoms were under pressure to show they merit the award.
Their triumph over the usa was somewhat tempered by the unwanted record of becoming the first team in Rugby World Cup history to win three pool matches yet fail to qualify for the knockout stages.
Jones said that he would listen if approached about coaching England.
“The guys have all played above themselves, they have worked hard, they played with a real spirit, they played how rugby should be played”, said Jones.
“I’ve done my job with Japan and that’s me done”.
Scored one of the tries of the tournament so far as he crashed over following a flowing team move against Argentina in Leicester. Tonga lost the arm wrestle up front against Georgia as Tonga’uiha sat out their first game but he returned to shore things up in their next three matches.
“Injury rates at the elite level of the game have not increased since 2002”, said a World Rugby spokesperson.
Jones was going to South African Super Rugby team the Stormers because he didn’t want to remain employed by a Japanese Rugby Football Union he believed was holding back the game. The one loss was to Scotland, when the tired courageous Blossoms were over-run in the second half just four days after upsetting the Springboks.
“I’ve not said I’m interested”.
Yet by the end of the pool phase the Japan fullback was a national hero and a name known to rugby fans across the globe.
Henry felt Argentina were the other rugby nation that had come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and had been impressed with their Cup performances, pointing out they stretched the All Blacks and had put big scores up against other group rivals. This is what sport can do.
“From when I started playing professional rugby, which was quite late at 19, I never really looked at England that much”.
Jones is upbeat about the momentum continuing given the current squad has a solid slice of young players.
The only defeat came against Scotland, 45-10, as coach Eddie Jones’ team was unable to back up the opening win with a short time to recover.
Japan supporters among the 14,517-strong crowd wore kimonos, while a few U.S. visitors were dressed head to toe in Elvis Presley jumpsuits.
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Tries from Kotaro Matsushima, Yoshikazu Fujita and Amanaki Mafi helped earn a another well-deserved victory, but the occasion in Gloucester was the ultimate anti-climax, coming three weeks after they shocked the tournament by beating South Africa. Eventually, they crossed with a quarter of the match expired – wing Takudzwa Ngwenya receiving a well-weighted pass from captain Chris Wyles.
