Japan's Miller could miss opener

Japan could be without star fly-half Andrew Miller for their World Cup opener against Scotland.

The 31-year-old New Zealander, who is seen as one of Japan’s key men in the tournament, is struggling with a strained left hamstring.

Miller sat out Japan’s final training camp before the 30-man squad departed for Australia over the weekend.

But the Kobe play-maker, who qualifies to play for Japan as he has lived in the country for more than three years, remains hopeful of playing some part in Sunday’s Pool B opener in Townsville.

“Obviously I have missed out on all the team combination stuff, so I’ve missed out a lot of the planning and combination training with the other players, which is pretty important,” said Miller.

“We’ll just see how it goes. I think the coach wants me to participate in some way or another in that game, so probably if I am not starting then I might be on the bench.

“It’s hard to say, but it feels like it’s still a week or two away from being 100 per cent.

“But the time has come, no more fooling around now. The big time is here, so I’ve got to get out there and play shortly.”

The Japanese have only won one match in the previous four World Cups and are desperate for a good start against the Scots.

Head coach Shogo Mukai claims that Japan’s goal is to win two games in the tournament for the first time, and he feels Scotland will offer one of those chances in a Pool that also includes the United States, France and Fiji.

“We have just returned from a week’s training camp in Okinawa and the condition of the players has improved in that time,” Mukai said before the team left for Australia on Sunday.

“I am sure we can play well in Australia as everyone is now fully focused on our first match against Scotland.”