Asian 5 Nations Rugby: Japan demolishes Philippine Volcanoes 121-0
The rain poured down in Fukuoka, and there was a deluge of Japanese tries as well.
The Philippine Volcanoes received a sobering reminder of how unforgiving international Rugby can be when they were dealt a 121-0 hiding in the first game of the 2013 HSBC Asian 5 Nations Elite division.
Japan ripped through the Philippine defense like a ginsu knife through lechon, scoring 18 tries in a steady downpour at Fukuoka's Level 5 stadium.
It is only the second loss ever by the Philippines in A5N play.
The Volcanoes were comprehensively outclassed in every phase of play, and were forced to make 101 tackles throughout the course of the game according to TV match statistics, a number that commentator Mike Rehu remarked was perhaps a bit low.
Such was Japan's dominance that the hosts, in contrast, only needed to make 21 tackles all game long.
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Japan leaned on terrific performances from center Harumichi Tatekawa, who flummoxed the dazed Philippine defense all game long with his juking and passing, apart from scoring a try.
Debutante Kenki Fukuoka, just 20 years old, came on as a substitute and wowed the crowd with two sensational tries from the wing, displaying world-class pace.
Japanese placekicker, fullback Ayumu Goromaru, was simply brilliant, making fourteen of eighteen conversion attempts (many of them from near the touchline), nailed an early penalty kick, and also scored a try of his own for a total of 36 points.
The Japanese were the physically bigger team in the forward pack, outweighing the Philippines 876kg to 835kg up front and the advantage showed in the scrums, where the Philippines were repeatedly caught backtracking.
The Japanese have won every single Elite Division in the HSBC Asian 5 Nations since its inception in 2008 and are a perennial at the sport's World Cup. Japan has never lost a game in the Asian 5 Nations.
Japan played their first International in 1932 and have a long history of high-level Rugby. They are currently ranked 15th in the world, 41 places higher than the Philippines.
Their Rugby Union competition is fully professional and seven of the Philippine Volcanoes ply their trade there. Many Japanese players have played in top leagues in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
With plenty of Volcanoes playing at semi-pro or even amateur clubs, it was always going to be a tough ask for Jarred Hodges' team to compete with the home side.
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While the large margin of victory was remarkable, it is not the biggest margin of victory ever in the sport at International level. Eleven years ago Japan, nicknamed the Brave Blossoms, destroyed Chinese Taipei 155-3. In that same year Argentina's Pumas won by the same margin over Paraguay, 152-0.
The lone bright spot for the Philippines was scrum half James Price, who earned praise from commentator Mike Rehu for his spirited play.
The Volcanoes had two early chances to get on the scoreboard when they were granted penalties deep in Japanese territory, but placekicker Gareth Holgate nudged both attempts wide of the uprights in the soggy conditions and 13 degree celsius-cold.
The Philippines' regular kicker, Oliver Saunders, is out with an injured knee.
Starting forward Jake Ward was also hurt and left the game to be replaced by Dave Feeney.
Feeney is the only Philippines-based player on the squad and plays at club level for Nomads Manila.
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The Volcanoes get a bye next week before taking on Hong Kong in Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on May 4. The squad then travels to Ansan, Korea, for a road game against Korea Republic on May 11 before rounding out their top flight campaign with a game at Rizal against the United Arab Emirates on May 18.
The bottom club in the round-robin league is relegated to the second tier of Asian Rugby, the HSBC Asian 5 Nations Division 1, next year. Last year the Philippines earned promotion to the top flight by winning Division one with triumphs over Singapore, Chinese Taipei, and Sri Lanka.
Should the Philippine finish fourth or better after this season, they will remain in the Elite division next year, and have a chance at qualifying for the 2015 International Rugby Board World Cup in England.
The 2014 champ gains entry into the World Cup and the second place team goes into a repechage or second-chance four nation single-knockout playoff for the last remaining slot.
In spite of the heavy defeat, the Philippines nonetheless impressed with their fighting spirit, and commentator Rehu said after the final whistle that “they can look at themselves in the mirror and be proud of their performance.”
Live TV coverage will be on Star Sports and Solar Sports. Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333. Follow the Volcanoes @PhilippineRugby.
