Japan determined to prove '95 loss is history

Japan plan on showing New Zealand their rugby has matured in a big way since losing to the All Blacks by a record 145-17 at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

The Brave Blossoms impressed a worldwide audience during Saturday's 47-21 loss to France in Pool A with a performance that had Les Bleus sweating before running away with the game near the end.

Japan's defeat by the All Blacks 16 years ago remains the most lopsided loss in RWC history. John Kirwan's charges, however, will be out to show the hosts in Hamilton on Friday that such days of humiliation are long behind them.

"As soon as we found out that we were playing New Zealand in New Zealand, that defeat crossed everyone's minds," Japan second row Toshizumi Kitagawa said.

"But we're determined to show how much we've improved since then."

"We don't talk about the past," added centre Ryan Nicholas. "It's just nice that people can see the improvements that we have made and take a team like France close for most of the game.

"We can take a lot of confidence out of that."

Despite having lost two key players to injury, second row Justin Ives and number 8 Ryukoliniashi Holani, the France game has clearly buoyed Japan's confidence ahead of the All Blacks clash.

The Japanese players, however, have not forgotten who they will be going up against on Friday.

"The All Blacks are the best team in the world," Nicholas said. "We have to be realistic about what we want to do and what our goals are. It's important that we don't go down from here. We have to keep building."