Instead of the overblown marketing hype from acolytes of World Rugby about the millions of new converts to the game anticipated following the ground-breaking decision to hold Rugby Union’s global showpiece in Asia for the first time – including predictions of over 110 million new fans and almost two million new players – we had a Japanese signature at the start of the event which hit most of the right notes.
The ceremony was about an hour from start to finish – unlike the interminable pageant at the start of the Olympics – and the fanfare was spectacular and well-planned.
Instead of pretending that the sport was about to be beamed into every yurt on the Mongolian steppes overnight, it kept its focus on Japan’s role in spreading the Rugby Union message.
That message in Japan’s case still has some way to go, given that baseball and sumo wrestling are comfortably the biggest sports in the country, and that as many as one in five of Japan’s 126 million population – only 100,000 of whom play the game – do not know that they are hosting Rugby Union’s global showpiece.
The bid to win hearts and minds at major sports events starts with the symbolic welcome which is intrinsic to opening ceremonies. This began with the large stage platform on the pitch lit up by a brilliant laser light display as we were taken through an assortment of Japanese tableaus to the accompaniment of Taiko drums, flutes, and traditional Kabuki dance and music.
Denne historien er fra September 22, 2019-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra September 22, 2019-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
Townsend: We'll have to be at our very best
GREGOR Townsend may have several wins over South Africa on his CV as a player, and one as an assistant coach.
Gatland's a facing big day at the office
WARREN Gatland has known plenty of huge fixtures during his coaching Grand Slam career games, Six Nations title-clinchers, Lions series deciders and World Cup semi-finals, plus European and Premiership finals.
Ireland all at sea as McKenzie pulls the strings
SOME games live up to their billing and others don’t. This fits firmly into the second territory with a subdued Ireland falling a long way short of their world No.1 status while New Zealand, you sense, were often struggling to engage top gear themselves for long periods of the match.
More heartache for England as Aussies steal it at the death third attempt the odds
THE Wallabies had the last waltz in a match of extraordinary ebb-and-flow drama at the Old Cabbage Patch, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with an audacious, blistering injury time try by winger Max Jorgensen.
Cunningham-South gunning for Boks
CHANDLER Cunningham-South is aiming to be a big hit against the Springboks on Saturday after adding New Zealand to his highlights reel.
Baxter backing Slade to adapt to changes
EXETER are confident that the decision to change their defensive system will not jeopardise Henry Slade's place in the England side.