KEY POINTS:
CARDIFF - Japan's injury woes worsened at the World Cup on Friday with the news that both centre Shotaro Onishi and flanker Yasunori Watanabe would be unable to play again.
Coach John Kirwan said that both men picked up serious injuries in the 72-18 loss to Wales here on Thursday night.
Kirwan said that Onishi had suffered a popped rib cartilage and would be out of action for three to four weeks.
Watanabe suffered a suspected detached bicep and will undergo scans on Friday evening to confirm the full extent of the injury.
"We need to find the guy with the voodoo doll who keeps putting pins into our players," a grim-faced Kirwan said.
"Injuries are part of the game but we've had eight or nine injuries to key players this year. I'm running out of fingers (to count them on)."
Turning to the game against Wales which was Japan's third loss in three games, Kirwan bemoaned the number of turnovers his side allowed and the many tackles they missed.
"If you studied the game like I did at 2am, I thought our defensive game was good. It's the little things at this level that are important, not the big things."
"This world cup will probably be decided on a turnover. We can't expect to make six turnovers against a Six Nations side and get away with it."
The only good news ahead of Japan's final World Cup game against Canada in Bordeaux on Tuesday was that full-back Go Aruga was fighting his way back to full fitness and would likely be able to regain his place.
- AFP
