By Rich Freeman,
Japan held their final training session at their Rugby World Cup base camp of Stade Ernest Wallon on Wednesday before they travel to Nantes to take on Argentina in their winner-takes-all clash.
The winners of Sunday's game will then travel to Marseilles to take on the winners of Pool C for a place in the semifinals, while the losers will make the long journey home.
Warming up once again to the strains of Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi's "Tombo" -- the team's unofficial anthem -- the players looked relaxed and in good spirits ahead of the journey north to meet a team they have faced seven times before.
"In terms of genkiness, they have been genki over the last couple of days," skills coach Riki Flutey said, using the Japanese word for "in good health."
"But it's important to take the learnings in terms of the plans so we can execute at the weekend."
Although the session was only open to the media for 15 minutes, there were a couple of clues as to the possible lineup for Sunday's game as well as what areas the team are concentrating on as they look to beat the Pumas for just the second time.
Scrum-half Yutaka Nagare trained alone, his calf still strapped, though Flutey said they were hopeful Japan's vice-captain "will be available for selection."
Meanwhile, Japan's three hookers trained as a sub-group at the start of the session with special emphasis placed on their throwing in at the line-out.
Securing their own line-out ball will be key to Japan launching their own strike attacks, the phrase used to mean attacks from set pieces such as line-outs and scrums.
Dominating the line-outs will also be key to stopping the Pumas in their tracks. Japan go into the game ranked fifth in line-out steals -- behind Ireland, England, South Africa and New Zealand.
As is often the case when Japan play a team from either the Rugby Championship or Six Nations, there were plenty of mentions of physicality, pressure and high balls at the press conference.
"It's not a problem to catch the ball," said wing Kotaro Matsushima. "It's a matter of how we create a wall when the opposition's pressure comes through."
"We want to reduce what happened against England when they came through the wall to put pressure on us. We want to create a set-up where the catcher can just focus on getting the ball."
But as Matsushima pointed out, the Brave Blossoms were not going out simply thinking of their defensive duties.
"As a team, there's going to be pressure, but we don't want to be passive and we need to put pressure on them in every situation," he said.
"When there's an opportunity, if everyone's in action in that key moment of the game, we can score a try and that's what's going to make things difficult for them."
As if to show how relaxed and "genki" he and his teammates are, Matsushima added, "I'm not anxious at all. I'm really excited for this game and I just want to get out there."
Related coverage:
Rugby: "Genki" Brave Blossoms bid adieu to Toulouse as Pumas await
Rugby: Japan legend Luke Thompson hopeful Brave Blossoms can make last 8
Rugby: Japan to call on spirit of 2019, brotherhood for key clash
