The Pros and Cons of Conformity

Jones says that Japanese people are extremely resilient. Even when something is hard, they have a strong desire to get it done. He is not sure whether players in Australia would be able to stand up to the kind of severe training he put the Japanese team through, and perhaps, he says, he would take a different approach there. According to Jones, the reason why Japanese players can endure it is the strong pressure to conform with others, which means that nobody wants to be left behind.

In Japanese society, cooperation is generally seen as a virtue, and the ability to maintain rapport with those around is often praised. Jones, however, says that too much cooperation can be a bad thing when it comes to rugby. He notes, for example, that when the ball goes into touch, a forward has to decide the play for the lineout and signal to the others. In Japan, instead of one player making the call, it often becomes a group decision.

From Jones’s perspective, this appears to be nothing more than a clever way of avoiding responsibility. He says that rugby is a sport of decisions and judgments. A match moves at a furious pace, leaving no time for hesitation; if players do not apply their experience and knowledge to make quick decisions, the team will lose.

Japanese people have stressed the importance of harmony, but this is something that needs to change in the case of rugby.

A Courageous Decision

Under Jones’s demanding guidance, the Japanese players developed this needed independence and decisiveness. This was plain to see in the final moments of the World Cup match against South Africa.

South Africa was leading 32–29 when Japan won a penalty in front of the goal. Kicking for three points could have secured a draw to go down in the rugby history books. This was what Jones was hoping would happen.

Instead, the Japanese captain Michael Leitch opted for a scrum in the hope of winning the game. Ironically, the coach and captain made opposite decisions.

Michael Leitch (right) surges forward in Japan’s World Cup match against South Africa in Brighton, England, on September 19, 2015. (© Jiji)

After a breathtaking attack, a last-minute try by Karne Hesketh brought Japan a stunning victory in the final seconds. It was one of the biggest upsets in the history of rugby—and, indeed, the history of sport.

Ultimately, the players displayed the independence Jones had been seeking in their dramatic win. Although surprised by the decision to go for the scrum, he later said that he respected Leitch’s courageous decision. It was the moment that completed a glorious chapter in Japanese rugby—and perhaps opened a new one.

(Originally written in Japanese and published on November 18, 2015. Banner photo: Gorōmaru Ayumu (left) and Japanese players celebrate a second-half try against South Africa in the World Cup match in Brighton, England, on September 19, 2015. © Jiji.)