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Japan coach John Kirwan believes in his team
Japan were already on the defensive on Monday, when coach John Kirwan told the press that his primary objective would be to keep the score as low as possible when his team challenges the Wallabies on Saturday.
The Wallabies could, and probably will, be utterly ruthless when the two teams meet at the Stade Gerland, Lyon, with Wallaby coach John Connolly having already indicated that he would announce a full-strength team for the World Cup opener.
Connolly could, of course, surprise everybody when the team is announced on Wednesday, but it is highly unlikely that he will as Australia will want to win well - just to send out a firm warning to opposition.
Kirwan understands this well and admitted that keeping the points down against Australia would represent a victory for his 'minnow' team.
"We have a game against the second-ranked team in the world and we must face the challenge. A good score on the board will constitute a win." Kirwan added.
If Kirwan's Japan manages to frustrate the Wallabies, it would also serve as a confidence boost ahead of their other Pool B matches against Wales, Fiji and Canada, who are all rated above Japan in the IRB rankings.
"We must concentrate on the Australian game," said the former All Black wing, who refused to get ahead of himself.
Kirwan also said that the style of rugby his team played would be important, indicating that it wouldn't all be defence from the Japanese on Saturday. Attack is, so goes the proverb, sometimes the best form of defence.
"I think it is important for us as a team to keep the Japanese style of rugby. I believe that if we can withstand that and face the opposition we will have a fantastic World Cup.
"We'd like to keep the ball as much as possible and also to play a fast, quick game."
Kirwan said that the Japanese mindset would also be crucial if they harboured any ambitions of making any impression against the two-time World Champions.
"For us, it is very important that we believe in our ability.
"I believe that the players that we have here can believe in themselves and in the style of game we play, and can be successful."
"For us, it is an important World Cup. We want to show the world the Japanese style and we want to confirm that Japan deserves to host the 2015 World Cup,"concluded Kirwin.
