Japan gives Queensland Reds a fright

June 10, 2009 - 9:05PM


Teenage Queensland debutant Dom Shipperley helped the Reds out of jail with a dazzling late try for a 24-17 victory over Japan at Ballymore on Wednesday night.
The Reds were given a major fright by the enthusiastic Cherry Blossoms who held a 17-12 lead with 12 minutes left before flanker Scott Higginbotham and winger Shipperley crossed.

Shipperley, one of nine uncontracted players turning out for Queensland, evaded two defenders with some fancy footwork and blistering speed along the left touch line to seal the match.

Without the bulk of his Super 14 backline and four Test players, coach Phil Mooney had put the onus on his more experienced forward pack to take charge but they were never able to dominate in the way they would have liked against the willing tourists.

Under Eddie Jones in late 2006, another Queensland team without their internationals also scraped home with a 29-22 win in Tokyo.

The Reds dominated the first half, which was played almost entirely in Japan's territory, but went into the break with their heads down after conceding a try after the halftime siren to trail 10-7.

Queensland halfback Ben Lucas fumbled a grubber near the line for Japan winger Koji Tomioka to pounce and score.

Lucas atoned in kind with a try-saving tackle on fullback Jack Tarrant early in the second half.

From the ensuing plays, Queensland took the ball to the other end of the field for improving centre Charlie Fetoai to charge over from a Dallan Murphy cut-out pass.
When rookie five-eighth Murphy darted through for a 12th minute try on the back of a Leroy Houston charge,
the modest home crowd were licking their lips at the prospect of a lop-sided affair.
But the Cherry Blossoms, preparing for the Pacific Nations Cup, scrambled brilliantly in defence to snuff out a host of Reds chances.

They regained the lead midway through the second half through a brilliant 70m team try finished by replacement flanker Yoshitaka Nakayama but weren't able to hold on.
© 2009 AAP

http://news.rugbyheaven.com.au/break...0610-c3m0.html

Sounds like Higginbotham is continuing to build his stocks.
Be great to get him home and in a position we are deficient in at #6.

i think the title of this article is a little amusing, albeit Japan arent a powerhouse rugby nation but the fact the failed to defeat a QLD side minus wallabies is pretty poor.

Hey TOCC, thought we'd lost you! :cheers:

So you'd suggest that the Reds without Horwill, Barnes, Cooper, Hynes and a couple of others out shouldn't be able to beat the 16th ranked National team?
What would be most concerning from reading the article would be the inability of the Reds to control the Forward play with an "experienced pack" I would think?

yeah ive been preoccupied with work,

i wouldnt look to much at the more 'experienced forward pack', pretty sure that 1 or 2 players had experience whilst the rest didnt.