Their Pool contains Canada, Fiji, Wales and Australia, and on paper, you'd say that Japan would just be looking for any sort of result rather than qualification. While their best shot at some World Cup glory is probably in the form of Canada, there are few who would expect anymore than a white wash for the Asian nation.

However, they've had a good start to their road to world cup, with a moral boosting 69-10 win over the Asian Barbarians, but they'll face a tougher test in Italy against the Azzurri on the 18^th August, before they take on Portugal on the 25^th.

They then kick off their campaign with the hardest possible start, Australia, on the 8^th September.

Kirwin said today;

"We have a big responsibility at the moment, not only for Asian rugby, but especially for Japanese rugby. This team carries the dreams and hopes of a nation that is about to explode as far as rugby is concerned. To win, you must completely understand your opposition. We need to out-think and out-play our opposition. To do that, you must use your brains more than your bodies."

The Japanese famously came close last year to winning a bid to stage the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but missed out in the final 2, to New Zealand. The RFU came under much criticism after that decision, with players and fans alike wishing to improve the sport in the Asian quarters.

Bizarrely, the Japanese actually have rugby's world record try scorer in their squad! Daisuke Ohata burst onto he scene with Japan scoring three tries on his debut in a 1996, so it's apt in many way that when he scored a hat trick of tries against Georgia on 14^th May 2006, it took him above former holder, Australian, David Campese (64 tries in 101 tests).

With a record of 65 tries in 55 Internationals, he has an immense average of 1.18 tries per match!

And thankfully for the Japanese, he is fit and is included in their 30-man squad. Kirwin has named his 30, plus 6 back up players who will be called up if necessary.

Forwards:

Ryo Yamamura, Masahito Yamamoto, Tomokazu Soma, Tatsukichi Nishiura, Yuji Matsubara, Mitsugu Yamamoto, Hitoshi Ono, Takanori Kumagae, Luatangi Vatuvei, Luke Thompson, Takuro Miuchi (capt), Yasunori Watanabe, Hajime Kiso, Hare Makiri, Philip O'Reilly, Takamichi Sasaki.

Backs:

Yuki Yatomi, Tomoki Yoshida, Eiji Ando, Kousei Ono, Shotaro Onishi, Nataniela Oto, Yuta Imamura, Koji Taira, Bryce Robins, Daisuke Ohata, Hirotoki Onozawa, Kosuke Endo, Christian Loamanu, Go Aruga.

Back up players:

Takahiro Sugiura, Yuta Inose, Taku Inokuchi, Ryota Asano, Kim Chul-Won, James Arlidge.

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