SOUTH AFRICA 26-5 JAPAN
Coach Paul Treu (RSA)
On the victory:
“I think we won the game but I think we came off the field not a happy team. I think we made too many mistakes, too many missed tackles. Although we worked hard in defence, I was a bit disappointed because we conceded their try towards the end."
On easing Neil Powell into the game:
“It was just to give him some confidence. He hasn’t played for a while so I just wanted to give him some time on the park. Hopefully, as the tournament progresses we will give him some more game time."
On their next match against Canada on Friday:
“They always play physical and I don’t expect anything else. It is going to be a difficult game because they always play well against us but our guys will just have to switch on. We can't afford to make the mistakes that we made tonight. I think we just have to go out there and focus on what we have to do and come out with flying colours."
Assistant coach Kensuke Iwabuchi (JPN)
On the team's performance against South Africa:
"South Africa is the number one team so it is very difficult to play against them but our boys played well. We conceded a lot of turnovers so we have to revise that and we will play well - better than today."
On playing in the Dubai tournament:
"The World Cup is different from other tournaments. Myself and the boys are really feeling good. It is a great atmosphere and the people here are working really well. So apart from the result we want to enjoy ourselves."
On the team's last-minute try:
"The last-minute try was something that gives us energy for tomorrow."
SCOTLAND 14-33 CANADA
Ciaran Hearn (CAN)
On beating Scotland:
“It was a good start to the tournament to get out there and get the first win under our belt.”
On the difference between the teams and the next game against South Africa:
“I think it was our intensity in winning every kick off and going hard at them and just trying to finish off every move. Hopefully now we can come out with the same intensity next game against South Africa. Come out hard and hit them. Last year we had a pretty good game with them in Adelaide and came within four points of beating them and so we feel we can cause a big surprise against them.
“Our first target was to come out, win our first game and show everyone we can play this game. Now we want to take every game as it is and come out flying. We really feel we have the ability to surprise them and then we will beat Japan hopefully.”
Coach Stephen Gemmell (SCO)
On the defeat:
“I feel embarrassed and hugely disappointed. That’s not acceptable for any Scotland team. I have been involved with several teams and for a game in a World Cup on a massive stage to start the tournament like that was not good enough. Too many individual errors and we didn’t stand up as a team when we needed to. Our heads went down after the first score and we were a bit shellshocked (but) there are some experienced heads out there and there are no excuses for that.”
On picking the team up for the next match:
“It is my responsibility to get them up. There’s a chance to do it with another game tomorrow as there’s a quick turnaround and they need to get themselves ready for that game. I know that the players we have are better than that but they need to show that. There’s no point in talking about it and going away from this World Cup saying that we should have done better. We need to get up tomorrow and win.”
On whether Canada won with ease:
"I think that is right. Credit to Canada, they ran hard and challenged us but we didn’t turn up at all and I’d imagine Canada will be delighted with that. I'm sure there will be some battered bodies in their changing room but there are none in mine because they didn’t work hard enough."
.jpg)
