Person: Michael Leitch

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

rugby

Japanese players not in it for the money

There can't be many phrases as condescending in sport as 'Tier 2'.

rugby

Emotional scenes before and after Japan's win over Scotland

rugby

Eye on Japan: How small stones became one big rock

rugby

Hosts remain gracious — even in victory

rugby

Japan v Ireland: How the sides compare

rugby

Irish scalp would ignite World Cup fever

Joe Schmidt’s meticulous planning means Ireland shouldn’t be caught cold

Donal Lenihan picks out three issues Ireland must address.

Fri, 27 Sep, 2019

Schmidt is playing by the rules of a small world

If there’s one thing we’ve learned through Trump and Brexit and any number of other modern misadventures then it must be the depressing truth that facts and logic come a distant second to raw emotion and an indignant sense of righteousness.

Thu, 05 Sep, 2019

Joe Schmidt: 'Victory over Japan was tough going'

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt was relieved to see his side clinch a hard-fought 35-13 victory over Japan at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo.

Sat, 24 Jun, 2017

#RWC2015 Diary: O’Connell was always good craic, declares Henshaw

Ireland will miss Paul O’Connell’s off-the-cuff stand-up comedy just as much as his originality in pre-match war cries, according to Robbie Henshaw.

Wed, 14 Oct, 2015

#RWC2015 Diary: Japan becoming a rugby county too

Here’s a few pub talking points from #RWC2015 that you might have missed ...

Tue, 06 Oct, 2015

WATCH: Japan's hopes still in bloom

Samoa 5 Japan 26: Japan coach Eddie Jones believes his players have put the pride back in Japanese rugby regardless of whether they qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals.

Mon, 05 Oct, 2015

Warren Gatland savouring sweetest win of his coaching career

It must rank as one of the sweetest wins of Warren Gatland’s chequered Welsh coaching career but I have a strange feeling that Australia could yet prove the biggest beneficiaries of this result.

Mon, 28 Sep, 2015

Could a producer in a TV van decide the World Cup?

WITH so many talking points from the opening weekend of World Cup action - the vast majority of which were positive - I’m not sure where to start, writes Donal Lenihan.

Wed, 23 Sep, 2015

Peter Jackson: Japan trigger off-the-scale tremor around the world

Ayumu Goramaru survived one Japanese earthquake four weeks before his international debut ten years ago and another four days afterwards. It taught him all about seismic shifts and the Richter Scale which measured the first at 6.6, the second at 5.8.

Mon, 21 Sep, 2015

Kirwan: Breakdown was key

Japan coach John Kirwan admitted Tonga’s physicality had been crucial in his side’s 31-18 World Cup Pool A defeat in Whangarei.

Wed, 21 Sep, 2011

Tonga hold off brave Japan to earn first World Cup victory

Japan 18 Tonga 31

Wed, 21 Sep, 2011