Unbeaten skipper Hewson out to upset Japan and earn World Cup spot
Blindside flanker has perfect record since taking over but faces his toughest test yet in Asian RWC qualifying finale
Nick Hewson's unblemished run as captain of Hong Kong is in danger of coming to an end on Sunday in Tokyo unless his side can "express themselves and not worry too much about what Japan will do" in the finale to the Asian Five Nations.
Hewson has a 5-0 win-loss record as captain going into the high-stakes match, which will decide Asia's representative at the 2015 World Cup in England. The winners will book a berth in pool B alongside South Africa, Samoa, Scotland and the United States. The losers will face Uruguay in the first stage of the repêchage.
The biggest worry for us is thinking about them too much rather than getting our process right. We have some quality players and we need them to be confident in expressing themselves
A bustling blindside flanker, Hewson hasn't tasted defeat since being given the captain's armband last December in the two-test home series against Belgium. with Hong Kong winning 28-17 and 18-15.
Japan, who are 13th in the IRB world rankings, will be his biggest test yet but Hewson says his side are looking forward to the tough challenge against a side boosted by three Super Rugby players.
"The biggest worry for us is thinking about them too much rather than getting our process right," Hewson said. "We have some quality players and we need them to be confident in expressing themselves."
Hong Kong have made one change to the line-up that started in the 39-6 win over South Korea a fortnight ago, with hooker Alex Harris coming in to replace Tom Bolland, who is unavailable. There are also three new faces on the bench – hooker Lachlan Chubb, scrum-half Kenneth Hsieh and full-back Tom McColl.
