2022 France rugby union tour of Japan
| 2022 France rugby union tour of Japan | |||||
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| Coach(es) | Fabien Galthié | ||||
| Tour captain(s) | Charles Ollivon | ||||
| Summary |
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| Total |
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| Test match |
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| Opponent |
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 Japan |
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| Tour chronology | |||||
| Previous tour | Australia 2021 | ||||
| Next tour | Argentina 2024 | ||||
In July 2022, France played a two-test series against Japan as part of the 2022 mid-year rugby union tests. The first test was played at Toyota Stadium in Aichi on 2 July, followed by the second test at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on 9 July.[1]
Coming into the series, France were ranked in second place in the World Rugby Rankings, while Japan sat eight places below in tenth.[2] The two nations last faced each other in a test match during 2017 end-of-year rugby union internationals, which ended up in a 23-23 draw.[3]
Fixtures
| Date | Venue | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 July 2022 | Toyota Stadium, Toyota | Japan
|
23–42 |  France
|
| 9 July 2022 | Japan National Stadium, Tokyo | Japan
|
15–20 | France
|
Squads
France
Among the starting 15 French players, 2 of them earned their first caps and 4 more had single-digit caps.[4] French coach intended to give test experience to the fringe players.[5]
Notes: 1 On 23 June 2022, Dorian Aldegheri withdrew from the squad following a thigh injury, while Aymeric Luc and Max Spring were on standby, being COVID-19 positive like assistant coaches Shaun Edwards and Laurent Labit.[6] On 25 June 2022, Luc and Spring tested negative and joined the rest of the team in Japan.[7]
Head coach: Fabien Galthié
Japan
On 31 May, a 34-man squad was named for Japan's 2-test series against Uruguay and their 2-test series against France.
On 7 June, Yutaka Nagare withdrew from the squad due to injury and Toshiya Takahashi was called up as his replacement.
On 17 June, Craig Millar withdrew from the squad due to injury and Shogo Miura was called up as his replacement. Also called up were, Takayasu Tsuji, Wimpie van der Walt and Tevita Tatafu.
On 27 June, Kaito Shigeno joined up with the squad ahead of Japan's 2-test series against France replacing Toshiya Takahashi and Amanaki Saumaki also withdrew due to injury.
- Head Coach:
Jamie Joseph
Matches
First test
| 2 July 2022 15:00 JST (UTC+09) |
| Japan | 23–42 | France |
| Try: Tatafu 13' c Fifita 80+1' c Con: Shigeno (1/1) 14' Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 80+2' Pen: Shigeno (1/1) 14' Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 26', 54' | Try: Penaud (2) 3' c, 58' c Lebel 43' c Moefana 61' m Bourgarit 69' c Con: Jaminet (4/5) 4', 45', 59', 70' Pen: Jaminet (3/3) 18', 29', 54' |
| Toyota Stadium, Toyota[8] Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland) |
Notes:
- Thomas Jolmès, Yoan Tanga and Thomas Lavault (France) made their international debuts.
- France winning-streak of 9 consecutive test matches is their best series since 1937.
Second test
| 9 July 2022 14:50 JST (UTC+09) |
| Japan | 15–20 | France |
| Try: Yamanaka (2) 12' m, 40' c Con: Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 40+1' Pen: Lee Seung-sin (1/1) 19' | Try: Lebel 9' c Couilloud 71' c Con: Lucu (1/1) 10' Jalibert (1/1) 72' Pen: Lucu (1/1) 44' Jalibert (1/1) 61' |
| National Stadium, Tokyo[8] Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland) |
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Notes:
- Max Spring (France) made his international debut.
- France equals his record winning streak of 10 consecutive international test matches.
Climatic conditions
The hot weather had been a major concern. At kick off of the first match, it recorded 34.5°C in Toyota.[9] 24 hours before the first match, Toyota city recorded a historic high 39.8°C.[10] As a result, three water breaks were put in place during each half of the match.[11] Just after kick off of the second match, it recorded 31.5°C in Tokyo.[12][13] Water breaks were also in place.
Condolences to Shinzo Abe
Before the second match, the 57,000 crowd observed a minute's silence for the assassination of Shinzo Abe. After the match, French captain Charles Ollivon offered a French jersey with the name "Abe Shinzo" printed. Abe was a keen supporter of Japanese rugby. He visited the Japan dressing room during the 2019 Rugby World Cup and invited the team to the prime minister's office.[13][14]
See also
References
- ^ "Japan's Brave Blossoms to host France in two July tests". The Japan Times. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Japan to host France for two Tests in July". Sky Sports. 28 February 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ 吉田宏 (2022-07-04). "1.5軍の世界2位フランスに敗戦 "手の内隠した"ラグビー日本代表、W杯への収穫とは". The Answer – via Yahoo Japan.
- ^ "France rally again to win second Test against Japan in Tokyo". Irish Times. 2022-07-09.
- ^ Heagney, Liam (23 June 2022). "Shaun Edwards didn't fly to Japan with France on Wednesday night". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ Mathieu, Bastien (25 June 2022). "Aymeric Luc et Max Spring négatifs". FFR (in French). Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Le Japon en juillet, l'Afrique du Sud en novembre : le programme des Bleus en 2022 !". 13 December 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "名古屋 2022年7月2日（１０分ごとの値）". Japan Meteorological Agency. 2022-07-02.
- ^ "汗３リットル、体重５キロ減 炎天下のラグビー代表戦に涼しい顔の訳". Mainichi Shimbun. 2022-07-02.
- ^ "10分おきのウォーターブレイク。「気候条件について不平不満を述べる者はいません。しかし、安全の考慮は重要」。フランス代表、最善の準備を経て第1テストマッチへ". Rugby Republic. 2022-07-02.
- ^ "東京 2022年7月9日（１０分ごとの値）". Japan Meteorological Agency. 2022-07-09.
- ^ a b 松瀬学 (2022-07-11). "「安倍さんのご供養のためにも勝ちたかった」。強豪フランスに惜敗したラグビー日本代表のリーチマイケル". Yahoo Japan. Archived from the original on 2022-07-11.
- ^ "Japan rugby players remember Abe after emotional France Test". Channel News Asia. 2022-07-10.