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TOULOUSE - Japan coach John Kirwan believes the Asian side are making progress despite shattering defeats in their two World Cup outings.
Japan were ruthlessly brushed aside by Australia 91-3 in their opener before narrowly losing 35-31 to Fiji.
Now they face another test of their ability when they take on Wales in Cardiff tomorrow in their penultimate Pool B match, with former All Black Kirwan insisting that his team deserve to be at the tournament.
"Before the World Cup, we were considered a second class country but we are a rugby nation," said Kirwan.
"Many countries work to achieve a world level and we are no different from them. Against Fiji, you saw a team that believed in what it was doing. We could have won that match.
"We need to progress well and keep working. It's important to believe that. If we play according to our abilities we can believe in our progress."
Kirwan hasn't ruled out an upset win over the Welsh at the Millennium Stadium and believes he saw enough of the home team's defeat against Australia to provide a glimmer of hope.
Wales started slowly and were 25-3 down at halftime against the Wallabies before they mounted a late, fruitless fightback in their 32-20 defeat which has left their own chances of making the quarter-finals hanging in the balance.
"If we let them play their quick game, we will be in trouble," said Kirwan.
"So we need to put them under pressure right from the start."
Japan will conclude their World Cup campaign against Canada in Bordeaux on Wednesday.
"We must finish with two good matches. At this World Cup I have seen the smaller nations making progress," said Kirwan.
"I have personally received messages of encouragement for the way that Japan plays and it would be great if we could end the tournament with another good performance.
"My only worry is the schedule.
"It's obvious that we won't have the time to recover from the exertions of the match in Cardiff."
For tomorrow's match, fullback Go Aruga, who is injured, will be replaced by Tongan-born Christian Loamanu who switches from the wing.
The other change sees Hirotoki Onozawa, who came on for Aruga against the Fijians, play at left wing for Kosuke Endo, who switches to the right in place of Loamanu.
AFP
