The Japanese national rugby team will play four consecutive matches against South Africa, Ireland, Wales, and Georgia starting on November 2nd. In addition to the four matches, WOWOW will broadcast and stream the "Quilter Nations Series," featuring top teams from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Ahead of the first match against South Africa, former Japan national team member Masataro Onishi, who will be commentating on the match, and former NHK announcer Kenjiro Toyohara, who will be in charge of play-by-play, spoke about the highlights of the match.
--In November, the Japanese national team will play against strong opponents for four consecutive weeks.
Masataro Onishi: This isn't just limited to the Japanese national team, but whether or not they win can have a big impact on the excitement in the country, so results are important. There are less than two years until the 2027 World Cup. I hope that the Japanese national team will continue to win from here on out, creating an atmosphere throughout Japan of "Let's cheer them on! Let's get excited!" and that this autumn series will be like that.
Toyohara Kenjiro: I sensed from Leitch's words that he was determined not to let the matches against Australia in October, and South Africa, Ireland, Wales, and Georgia in November end as just "good games," and he has raised Japanese rugby to that level. That's why, just like the 2015 World Cup, which changed the mindset of the Japanese sports world, I hope that this autumn series will be a test match that will raise the mindset of Japanese rugby to the next level.
-Which card are you two particularly interested in?
Toyohara: Of course, I'm paying attention to all the matches, but considering that I'll be commentating and that the match took place at the World Cup 10 years ago, I'm particularly interested in the match against South Africa on November 2nd. Both South Africa and Japan have changed a lot in the 10 years since then. South Africa's attitude towards Japan is likely to have changed since then, so I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of match Japan will put on. I also think it will be a good opportunity for us to reflect on how we've grown over the past 10 years.
Onishi: I will also be providing commentary for the South Africa match, and I'm looking forward to guest commentary by Tanaka Fumiaki, who was Man of the Match in that match 10 years ago. We were all involved in that South Africa match from different positions at the time, so it's great to be able to talk about Leitch, who is still playing for the Japanese national team 10 years later. Another match I'm looking forward to is the Wales match. They played against each other twice in Japan in July, with one win and one loss. This will be the third match, and the Japanese national team will be traveling to their home turf to decide the score, so I'm very much looking forward to seeing if they can beat Wales at home.
--Among these matches, please tell us which opponents we should be wary of and which players we shouldn't overlook.
Onishi: As for Wales, I'm keeping an eye on flanker Jack Morgan, who was selected for the British & Irish Lions and therefore did not play in the match against Japan in July. He's also the captain, and his presence alone can change the whole team, much like Leitch for the Japanese national team. He'll likely be on the Wales national team again in the autumn, so it'll be even more exciting if they go head-to-head wearing the same number 7.
Toyohara: The focus for South Africa is on fly-half (stand-off) Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who showed a stunning display in the match against Argentina in Round 5 of the Rugby Championship. I'm sorry to say this, but in an interview before the opening, I said, "South Africa's halfbacks have always had the same players, with fly-half Handre Pollard in particular having been playing for a long time. With the 2027 World Cup in mind, we need other players to emerge," and now he's come into play. He showed such a stunning display that it seems he could dominate world rugby, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the Japanese national team will fare against him.
--Please also tell us which Japanese national team players you would like to watch.
Toyohara: I'd say hooker Era Hayato and wing Ishida Yoshihira. He's a type of player that I don't think exists anywhere else in the world, with his size (not particularly large) and speed. There are many good players in the hoist position, but Era is particularly strong in the scrum, good at lineouts, and calm despite his young age. I see potential in him, and I hope he will demonstrate his talent as a unique player on a global level. The same can be said for Ishida, who I hope will perform like Yoshito Yoshida (former Japan national team wing), who surprised the world with his speed despite his small stature. I also hope he will become someone who inspires smaller Japanese rugby players.
Onishi: My favorite player is fly-half Lee Seung-shin, who has been extremely consistent. I think the fact that we can have a fixed number 10 (fly-off) is proof that the team is improving as a whole and moving in the same direction. His place kicks, which boast a high success rate, are also a major weapon. After all, two points (conversion goals after tries) and three points (mainly penalty goals) are important in test matches, so his accurate kicks will surely help the team. I hope he continues to gain confidence in all areas, including playmaking, and lead the Japanese national team as a playmaker.
The forward is 208cm tall lock Harry Hockings, who has been achieving results in League One. Another player in the squad is taller than fellow lock Warner Deans (201cm). I played with his older brother Tom during my time with Kintetsu (now the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), so I've known Harry for quite some time and have always been a fan of his. I'd love to see the two of them form a twin tower.
--Not only the matches against the Japanese national team, but the Quilter Nations Series itself is a series of serious matches between the world's top teams.
Onishi: With the World Cup approaching, we'll know which teams are in the best shape this time around. The 2027 World Cup pool draw will be held on December 3rd (the draw to allocate the 24 participating teams into six pools. The draw is based on the world rankings, and teams ranked 12th or higher as of December 1st are likely to be placed in favorable pools), and the standing and tension will be different for teams that are sure to be ranked within the top 12 in the world by that time, and those that are not. The Japanese national team is right on the borderline between being selected and not selected (13th place as of October 13th), and all teams will be fighting with the goal of moving up in the rankings, so it's really exciting.
Toyohara: During the 2019 Rugby World Cup, I remember feeling very lucky to be able to watch so much world-class rugby every day. I'm in the position of telling you this, but I'm truly happy that we'll be able to see these test matches for five consecutive weeks, and even see the Japanese national team play against other strong teams. Thanks to the hard work of everyone on Japan, we're able to have this kind of everyday life, and I think it's amazing. I hope everyone enjoys these five weeks, and I hope to enjoy myself as well.
Onishi: The happy month of sleep deprivation is about to begin (laughs).
Toyohara: Let's do our best to overcome jet lag within Japan (laughs).
-Finally, please tell us once again your expectations for the Japanese national team and your vision for the future.
Toyohara: I want to see the true nature of "super-speed rugby." I think we're still at a milestone (until we reach completion), but I feel like we're starting to get a sense of it. What's more, in the fall, players like Leitch will join us and we'll have a full team. I'd love to see them demonstrate what "super-speed rugby" is by the halfway point leading up to the 2027 World Cup (the halfway point between World Cups). If the players can gain the confidence and foundation to know "this is how we're going to fight," I think it will be a great harvest for the next two years. I hope that November will be a time when we see this.
Onishi: During overseas tours like this one, the players spend a lot of time together, and from my experience, this produces positive results. I felt that the Japanese national team's team strength and unity improved during their nearly one-month tour of the US during the Pacific Nations Cup (August-September). This time, they will be spending a long period together in Europe, so I think that by discussing things other than rugby, they will be able to strengthen their unity as a team and create an atmosphere that makes fans feel like "we can do well in the next World Cup," which will encourage them to support the team. This is a very important period for the Japanese national team, so I hope that everyone will come and support them in front of the TV.
*...The rugby programs that WOWOW will broadcast and stream in the future are as follows:
<Four consecutive weeks of Japan national team matches! WOWOW Rugby Special> "South Africa vs Japan" = 12:45 AM on November 2nd (WOWOW Live, WOWOW On Demand) ▽ "Ireland vs Japan" = 9 PM on the 8th (WOWOW Live, WOWOW On Demand) ▽ "Wales vs Japan" = 2:15 AM on the 16th (WOWOW Prime, WOWOW On Demand) ▽ "Georgia vs Japan" = 8:45 PM on the 22nd (WOWOW On Demand, *live streaming only).
<Rugby Test Match 2025 Quilter Nations Series> 20 matches will be streamed live from November 1st to 29th, with 10 notable matches being broadcast.
EDDY TIMES 2025 (Special Edition) "Michael Leitch: The Life Trajectory of a Man Carrying the Cherry Blossoms on His Back, and into the Future" is scheduled to be released on WOWOW's official YouTube channel and on WOWOW On Demand on October 25th. This special talk show will explore both Michael Leitch's side as a rugby player and as a person. Also appearing are Masataro Onishi and Kenjiro Toyohara.
<Special program just before the live broadcast of Japan's fateful match against South Africa> "Rugby Test Match 2024 Autumn Nations Series France vs Japan" = 4:45 pm on November 1st (WOWOW Live) ▽ "Rugby Test Match 2024 Autumn Nations Series England vs Japan" = 7 pm on the same day (WOWOW Live) ▽ "Just before the live broadcast of the South Africa match! The excitement from 10 years ago is relived - Rugby World Cup™ 2015 South Africa vs Japan" = 9:20 pm on the same day (WOWOW Live) ▽ The film "Brighton Miracle" = 11:20 pm on the same day (WOWOW Live).
