JAPAN XV beat the Hong Kong China Men’s XV 59-14 in the uncapped but first-ever XVs match to be played at the Kai Tak Stadium on Friday, 24 October, with an official attendance of 7,702 watching on.
Feature Photo Credit – HKCR
The result was a marginal improvement for the first-time Rugby World Cup qualifiers, with the Japanese having won 64-12 the previous time they met, but the game never seemed to be in doubt for the much stronger visitors, who scored nine tries to two in the contest.
HKCR Head of Technical Rugby, Andrew Douglas, was disappointed and didn’t hide the fact after what he thought was a good week and camp in Japan.
“I am disappointed with that result, to be honest, and I was expecting better from us. I think certain individuals will reflect on that game. Possibly it was the bright lights of playing at Kai Tak Stadium that got to us, but I think also we thought we were further ahead than where we are.
It showed that we have a fair way to go to get to where we need to be over the next two years. We can’t hide from the score out there. We are going to be in Australia in two years and possibly playing in front of 50-60,000 people, so we have to get used to it, and we can’t really use that as an excuse.”
Japan won the toss and kicked off with Hong Kong China’s captain Josh Hrsich catching and putting in a big carry – he was one of only a handful of home players to shine in the contest, in which they were beaten in most departments.
Japanese centre Yuya Hirose showed their attacking intent early to score under four minutes, but Hong Kong China will be disappointed with their defence, which all game shipped too many soft tries against a quality team.
The opening 25 minutes were all played in the HKCR half, and even though there were some huge shots from Hrstcih and the likes of Benjamin Axten-Burrett, they could not get their hands on the ball, while the Japanese showed really great skills and pace of attack and hands to shift the ball around. The pace of their game and the tip passes were just too good for the Hong Kong China side to deal with.
Photo Credit – HKCR – Hong Kong China Men vs JAPAN XV
JAPAN XV winger Tomo Takamoto scored the second try, giving them a 12-0 lead after 12 minutes, and to make things worse, the hosts were also losing the scrum battle.
It was only unforced errors and desperate defence which kept the scoreline down, but Hirose added his second before Hong Kong China prop Zacceus Cinnamond was yellow carded for repeat infringements at the scrum, and Tomo Takamoto secured his brace of tries for a 26-0 advantage.
With one of their rare forays into the JAPAN XV 22m, the hosts did make the most of their opportunity, and the captain took defenders with him to score under the posts, converted by Dylan McCann, before the giant lock David Van Zeeland scored for the visitors for a 33-7 halftime lead.
Photo Credit – HKCR
The second half started more loose and open, with both sides creating chances, but the Japanese scored first from a driving maul via hooker Shodai Hirao and then Yuto Mori. Substitute Shuntaro Kitamura scored within minutes of coming into the field for a healthy 52-7 lead.
With the home support trying their best to urge the team in red on, HKCR hooker Calum Scott scored the team’s second and final try, converted by replacement Gregor McNeish. There was one final score for JAPAN XV through reserve Ichigo Nakakusu to win the game 59-14.
The home side fans voted Brendon Nell as the HSBC Hong Kong China Fans Player of the Match, but it was Max Murphy and Josh Hrstich who really stood out for the team, while the Japanese could have selected from half a dozen players who shone, and have put their hands up for the Brave Blossoms end-of-year tour to Europe.
Photo Credit – HKCR
Referee Reuben Keane from Australia, Craig Chan and Shane Barr (Hong Kong China) were the Assistant Referees for the first 15s test match at Kai Tak Stadium.
There are JRFU YouTube highlights of the match available here.
Hong Kong China Captain Joshua Hrstich said after the match, “It felt like with the territory and possession they had in the first half, we struggled, but when we did get into their 22m area, we came away with points. There are some good lessons there about respecting the ball and playing in the right areas. We will take a lot out of this game, and we are super grateful to JRFU for sending a quality side to play us and rarely test us.”
Playing in front of nearly 8,000 fans is something that was not lost on the captain, and he said they were all super grateful for the support.
“It was an awesome experience and one we relished, and the noise and cheering and crowd getting behind us was amazing. We have not had these opportunities in the past and have mainly played in front of friends and families and club supporters, so to play in a world-class arena like that is awesome.The more we can do that, the better it will be,” said Joshua Hrstich.
JAPAN XV Captain Akuto Okui shared of the occasion, “We had a big focus on playing our style of rugby, and I think we were able to do that, and I was happy. There was more pressure coming through from Hong Kong China in the second half, so I am proud we managed that well.
It was my first opportunity to play in such a big stadium as Kai Tak Stadium, and a lot of young players, including myself, have not had that opportunity before, so I am proud to have played here.”
JAPAN XV Acting Coach Ippei Asad said, “We wanted to make sure we played a Japan-style of rugby (chosoku blitz attack), which is high-tempo and fast-running rugby. In the first half, we were able to achieve that. But in the second half, Hong Kong China were much improved and their defence was good, and they managed to put more pressure on us, especially at the breakdown.”
Of the possibility of players in the Japan XV team joining the Brave Blossoms for the end-of-year tour, the coach confirmed that Eddie Jones had watched the match and that several players have been selected and will be announced after the weekend’s Wallabies game in Japan.
Hong Kong China and Japan Rugby News 2025
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