TOKYO - Asian rugby minnows Japan kept their heads up despite their 36-12 away defeat by Italy in their warm-up match ahead of the World Cup next month.
Headlines in Japanese dailies on Monday insisted that Japan showed their mettle with tight defence and that coach John Kirwan,an All Black legend, could live up to his goal of winning two World Cup matches in France.
"Japan put up a good fight against Italy," said the mass-circulation daily Yomiuri Shimbun.
It noted that Italy, who beat powerhouses Wales and Scotland in the Six-Nations tournament this year, fielded their best members against the Asian champions in their home game.
Italy jumped to a 22-0 lead after 20 minutes on three consecutive tries and a penalty. But Japan pulled two tries back to move within 22-12 in the 56th minute before Italy surged ahead with two late tries in the match on Sunday in Aosta.
"Japan showed their resolve by putting out tight defence," said the Sports Nippon Daily. It added, however, their slow start could not be tolerated in their bid to chalk up two World wins.
The goal is a tall order since Japan have only one victory in 16 previous encounters.
"In the first 20 minutes the team was nervous and made too many unforced errors," Kirwan said in Aosta, according to the Japan Rugby Football Union website.
"However, the team came back well in the second half of the first half and the second half," he said. "I was satisfied with the defence after the first 20 minutes and we rattled the Italians with our line speed."
Japan will play Portugal in their last warm-up match on Saturday before moving to France for their Pool B campaign against Australia, Wales, Fiji and Canada.
"Japan tried hard to hang in there," the influential daily Asahi Shimbun said. "But there was a 24-point difference at the end of the day and it showed Japan's strength."
"They could not follow up one attack with another even after they turned on the offensive," it said. "They were as fragile as before when they came under heavy pressure."
