Rugby World Cup 2023
著者：株式会社ミラック光学 代表取締役 村松 洋明
Many friends have been asking me this about a month ago.
“Hiroaki, aren’t you going to France to support Japan?”
I really want to go there, but I can’t because I have to prioritize work…
I will cling to the TV broadcast and continue to send passionate support from Japan during the tournament!
From now on, I think there will be several more topics that deviate from the president’s blog. Please forgive me because it will increase my motivation at work.
Four years after the thrilling World Cup in Japan, the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France has begun. It is said that there is no harder tournament to know which country will win than this World Cup. Their abilities are evenly matched. That made a great impact on me from the opening game. France, which was receiving loud cheers in the match held in their hometown, won the match against New Zealand. For New Zealand (All Blacks), this was their first defeat in the qualifying pool in World Cup history.
Japan took on Chile in their first match and earned a bonus point, moving on to a 5-point lead. The most important thing was that Japan won the important first match. Although I may have had too high expectations, I felt that Japan could have increased the goal difference a bit more. …However, considering that Japan made a series of easy mistakes in the first match against Russia four years ago, we must be happy that we were able to come through with a solid win without receiving any red card that would result in a suspension under the pressure of the first match and the bunker system that was introduced and became stricter from this tournament. Matsuda’s success in six out of six place kicks (100%) was spectacular.
This is just an amateur’s rant. I feel that “demon defense” and “accuracy of kicks” will be the keys for Japan to advance through the qualifying pool. In particular, overseas teams have great precision in place kicks, penalty kicks, drop goals, kick passes and touch kicks that penetrate deep into the enemy’s territory. It would hate them for Japan team if they were to do this one after another, but on the other hand, if Japan can do the things they don’t like, they can accumulate points. Also, if the defense that must have been honed through all that hard work is effective at the World Cup, it will be an even match and there will be a chance of victory. This may be obvious to everyone but I would like to focus on that and passionately support Japan !!
In test matches before the World Cup, they had 1 win and 5 losses. What is that ? Japan will make it through the deadly Group D qualifying pool with strong bonds under the slogan “Our Team”.
It’s no longer about giant killing and it’s about defeating a powerful country !!
I will support Japan and pray for Japan victory in the next big match against England as following Brighton’s miracle (win against South Africa), Shizuoka shock (win against Ireland), the joy and enthusiasm of Yokohama (win against Scotland and the long-awaited top 8).