Hong Kong show early fight but Japan’s class wins out in Asia Rugby Championship clash
Brave Blossoms cruise to 59-17 victory in Tokyo to wrap up series title and Leigh Jones’ men now face must-win game against South Korea for second place
Hong Kong will enter next weekend’s must-win match against South Korea knowing a patchy performance like the one they delivered in Saturday’s 59-17 loss to Japan in Tokyo simply won’t cut it.
We just can’t maintain the intensity for 80 minutes. We end up looking an ordinary team, with lots of errors
Victory against the Koreans will ensure Hong Kong finish second in the Asia Rugby Championship, a result crucial to their continued progression, but there is plenty of work still to be done.
Coach Leigh Jones did take some positives out of the loss to Japan, but rued a lack of sustained intensity.
“We started the game quite well, looked well in contention for 20 minutes but then the intensity just gets to us,” he said.
“We just can’t maintain that intensity for 80 minutes. We end up looking an ordinary team, with lots of errors.”
Hong Kong did indeed start well, jumping out to an early 10-0 lead thanks to an Adrian Griffiths try and the precise kicking of fly half of Ben Rimene.
Japan responded as expected and ground away at Hong Kong, soon regaining the lead and they were sitting pretty with a 24-10 lead at the break.
