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Kort Schubert © Getty Images
Eagles flanker Kort Schubert under pressure in a lineout against Japan

USA 39 v JPN 26: What they said

27/10/2003

 

Mark Ella (JPN) - Assistant coach

On Japan's performance:

"I would have to say we are frustrated, but there was no doubt that this World Cup was an enormous improvement for the team. Tonight we played an outstanding match.

"It is great to be entertaining and get the crowd behind the team. From a Japanese perspective this is a good thing. But at the end of the day we came here to win. We had four chances and we are leaving without a win. That is disappointing.

"They have certainly come a long way. They have the potential to go further, but it will take a lot of hard work."

Shogo Mukai (JPN) - Coach

On the influence of his foreign assistant coaches:

"Mark Bell has made our forwards strong, especially in the scrum. The scrum was our weakest point, but in this World Cup we have performed well in the scrum.

"Mark Ella has simplified our backline. They were making the game too complicated, though now they play simple. He has sped them up."

Dave Hodges (USA) - Captain

On the match:

"It was really good. We accomplished our first goal. It feels great to get that first win after so many years. I think we tried to get a little fancy at times, but when we ran hard and straight it paid off.

"I was a little bit worried but every time we got back to our pattern we did well."

Kort Schubert (USA) - Flanker

On the match:

"It feels great. It was truly a special thing and it was great. The guys are pumped up.

"We wanted to take it up in the forwards. We wanted to give our fly half room to move."

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