Advertisement
Despite nearly 8,000 attending the first Men’s XVs game to take place at Hong Kong’s new Kai Tak Stadium on Friday, 24 October, it was JAPAN XV who triumphed 59-15, outscoring the hosts with nine tries to two.
In total, there was an official attendance of 7,702 watching on, including Springbok Rugby World Cup winner Bryan Habana, and RWC 2025 runner-up and Rugby 7s Olympics 2024 silver medalist Flo Symonds, who started her rugby career in Hong Kong.
The Japanese started strong and were in control in the first half but had to work much harder in the second period as Hong Kong China improved defensively and at the breakdown. The players were keen to redeem last week’s big loss at the hands of Australia A and knew they still had a chance to book their own chance of joining the Brave Blossoms end-of-year tour, as the game was watched by head coach Eddie Jones from afar.
JAPAN XV Acting Coach Ippei Asad said post-game, “We wanted to make sure we played a Japan-style of rugby (chosoku) which is high-tempo and fast-running rugby. In the first half, we were able to achieve that. But in the second half, Hong Kong China were much improved and their defence was good and they managed to put more pressure on us, especially at the breakdown,
Regarding the possibility of players in the Japan XV team joining the Brave Blossoms for the end-of-year tour, he confirmed that several players have been selected and will be announced after the weekend.
Hong Kong China Men’s XV Head of Technical Rugby Andrew Douglas was disappointed with the performance, acknowledging the game was a reality check in how much progress had been made since they, even though they only qualified for Rugby World Cup 2027 in July and most of the players on full-time contracts had been so for a few months.
“I am disappointed with that result, to be honest, and I was expecting better from us. think also maybe we thought we were further ahead than where we are. We are going to be in Australia in two years and possibly playing in front of 50-60,000 people, so we have to get used to it (the big stadium games) and we can't really use that as an excuse.
On the positives to take away from the game, he added, “I think Brendan Nel played well at nine, I thought Guy Spanton, when he came on, gave us some energy, maybe there were a few dominant collisions, but they were too far between.
We are all competitive people, and we all have pride. But we will learn from this, and we have to reflect on it, and it has exposed a few areas of our game we need to be better at.”
Japanese centre Yuya Hirose opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute with some poor defence from the hosts. Hong Kong China struggled to get out of their half, and struggled with the pace and accuracy of the Japanese ball movement and attack. As the half went on, they also lost the set-piece battle.
Further tries from JAPAN XV winger Tomo Takamoto (a double) and a second for Hirose, as well as David Van Zeeland saw them outscore Hong Kong China 33-7 at the break after captain Joshua Hrstich had crossed over for their sole try. They also had to defend with 14 as prop Zacceus Cinnamond was yellow carded for repeat infringements at the scrum.
The second half was loose and open, and Hong Kong China had created more chances but again it was JAPAN XV who scored via hooker Shodai Hirao, Yuto Mori, and substitute Shuntaro Kitamura for a 52-7 lead.
HKCR hooker Calum Scott scored the team’s second and final try, converted by replacement Gregor McNeish, with Japan’s Ichigo Nakakusu scoring the final try of the game.
Hong Kong China Captain Joshua Hrstich, the New Zealand-born number 8 had another standout game, said afterwards, “There are some good lessons there about respecting the ball and playing in the right areas. We will take a lot out of this game and are super grateful to JRFU for sending a quality side to play us and rarely test us.”
The occasion may have got to the side, but he added, “It is great preparation for us and unbelievable to play at home and in front of a home crowd who were hungry for 15s, and we will need them over the next two years, but obviously it was a tough game, but it's all part and parcel of us building towards something good.”
Japan XV Captain Akuto Okui, who led the side for the second week in a row, said he was pleased with the performance and result. “We had a big focus on playing our style of rugby, and I think we were able to do that. There was more pressure coming through from Hong Kong China in the second half.”
Of the pressure and whether it was easier to play away from home, he said, “It was great to see the home support and so many Japanese fans in Hong Kong”, and he added that no matter where they play, they want to play a brand that's exciting to watch.
Hong Kong China will take on the Brumbies in another uncapped game in November before travelling to face Portugal.
The Brave Blossoms will face South Africa, Ireland, Wales, and Georgia in their European tour.
