Former Scotland skipper Kelly Brown: Japan will be exhausted after their emotional Boks victory

Eastern promise: Japan celebrate following their winning try but Kelly Brown wonders how much the match has taken out of them
Chris Jones22 September 2015

Kelly Brown believes the mental and physical effort Japan produced to claim their amazing victory over South Africa will be difficult to repeat against Scotland at Gloucester tomorrow.

Japan have already become the team to follow after their thrilling, last-gasp 34-32 win over the two-time champions on Saturday — and they will receive plenty of backing, particularly as their national colours are the same as the ones worn by the Kingsholm club.

Saracens flanker Brown won 64 caps for Scotland and captained the side when they beat Japan 42-17 in their last meeting two years ago.

Brown took time out of pre-season training to run the rule over Japan, Scottish chances at the tournament and the influence former Sarries captain Steve Borthwick is having as Japan forwards coach.

Brown said: “Japan’s win was an incredible result. Many of them did a lap of honour and were in tears because it was so emotional. That means with only four days between matches, it will be difficult for Japan to recharge their batteries both mentally and physically to face Scotland.

“I know that at the start of the tournament they were really targeting the Scotland match as one that they thought they could win, so there will be a strong plan in place to try to make that happen.

“Another thing that will be against the Scottish team now is that everyone in England will be choosing Japan as their second favourite side — and that will make it an incredible atmosphere, with the local fans watching Japan playing in the same colours as Gloucester!

“Before the South Africa game, I would have thought the majority of local fans would have backed Scotland, particularly as Greig Laidlaw plays his club rugby at there, but that has now changed.”

Brown recognises the impact Borthwick — who spent six years at Saracens before retiring last year and joining Japan — is having on their forwards. The line-out drive against the Springboks which eventually resulted in the winning try came straight out of the Sarries playbook.

“Scotland were aware of the threat posed by Japan even before the South Africa match,” said Brown.

“They have been improving year on year. The win over South Africa has only highlighted just how much Scotland have to be on their game in Gloucester.

LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images

“Scotland’s performances in the warm-up matches were encouraging and we came close to winning against France in Paris.

“It showed that the side is playing well. However, those games didn’t have the same kind of pressure that is now on the team for their opening tournament game and it will be interesting to see how they handle that expectation.

“We used that line-out move Japan called against South Africa a lot at Saracens and while the Japanese have always had flair and like to play at speed, what Steve and head coach Eddie Jones have brought is a real structure to their play.

“Their defence was really good and they totally imposed themselves on what is a big and talented South African side.”

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