A clear blue sky, a field in immaculate condition bathed in sunshine, a band entertaining the crowd before the game, 50,000 passionate rugby fans and two teams, playing vastly different styles, giving it their all for 85 minutes -- it could easily have been England vs. France at the Park de France in the Six Nations in spring.
However, this was the National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday and the playing of the 39th University Championship final and the teams were Waseda University and Kanto Gakuin, out to win its fifth title in six years. In the end Waseda prevailed by winning 27-22, thereby securing the championship for the first time since 1989 when head coach Katsuyuki Kiyomiya captained the side.
"It is much more satisfying this time around to win as coach," said Kiyomiya after a game in which the speed and organization of his team had overcome the physical presence of the Kanto Gakuin pack.