It's customary during the Rugby World Cup to pick a 'minnows' team to support ... you know, one of those countries that 'play' rugby but really have lots of expats in their teams or add colour to the Cup but not a lot of competition.
I'm quite liking the Japanese team. The Cherry Blossoms will play in Pool B with the Wallabies, the Canadians, the Welsh and the Fijians. They probably rank in playing status with the Canadians (a quarter-final spot as their best placing) but they do carry the distinction of fielding the number one try scorer in the game today, Daisuke Ohata. That's him on the right with Kiwi-born Andy Miller. He's scored 69 tries for his nation's team, 5 more than former record-holder David Campese.
Other minnows include the USA, Tonga, Romania, Portgual, Georgia and Namibia (the Wallabies once beat them 142 - nil). Out of these teams only the USA really has any chance of making it out of the pool rounds, although the Tongans play an entertaining game and supply a lot of players to other Southern Hemisphere teams (like the Fijians).
So, choose a minnow to support and add some fun to your Cup as well as some support to these teams' fan bases.
Go the Blossoms (even their nickname is nice :-)) !
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