• The Brave Blossoms celebrate after their victory over Tonga on Saturday night in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture. Captain Michael Leitch is holding a photo of head coach Jamie Joseph and his mother, who passed away earlier in the day in New Zealand, as the team poses for photos. | KYODO
    The Brave Blossoms celebrate after their victory over Tonga on Saturday night in Higashiosaka, Osaka Prefecture. Captain Michael Leitch is holding a photo of head coach Jamie Joseph and his mother, who passed away earlier in the day in New Zealand, as the team poses for photos. | KYODO
  • SHARE

HIGASHIOSAKA, OSAKA PREF. – The mental toughness Japan has been developing over the last few years — first seen in a 2013 win over Wales in Tokyo — once again came to the fore on Saturday as it kept alive its hopes of winning some silverware even before the Rugby World Cup kicks off.

The Brave Blossoms put aside the absence of their head coach, an early yellow card to Kotaro Matsushima and some worrying penalties to ensure Tonga was never in the Pacific Nations Cup game at Hanazono Rugby Stadium on Saturday, finishing as 41-7 winners in stifling heat and humidity.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

PHOTO GALLERY (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

, , , , ,