Maori All Blacks Dominate Japan XV in Tokyo Showdown

On Saturday, the Maori All Blacks showcased their strength by overpowering a Japan XV 53-20 in a non-test match held at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground. The game started competitively, with Japan taking a narrow 17-15 lead into halftime, bolstered by two tries from winger Kazuma Ueda. However, the second half saw the visitors dominate, scoring six unanswered tries and avenging their previous defeat against Japan last July.

Eddie Jones, the head coach of the Japanese team, reflected on the "big loss" as an opportunity for his young players to learn and grow in a more competitive environment. He noted that many of the participants were playing above their usual League One level, marking a significant step in their development. Despite praising individuals such as match-day captain Kanji Shimokawa, Jones pointed out that his side struggled in key areas, particularly in aerial duels and in controlling the pace of the opposing ruck.

Looking ahead, Japan is set to face Wales in the first of two test matches next Saturday at Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu, providing an immediate chance for the team to apply the lessons learned from this match.