Rugby: Brave Blossoms confident ahead of RWC despite loss to Boks english.kyodonews.net

By Rich Freeman, KYODO NEWS - 13 hours ago - 09:10 | Sports, Rugby2019, AllThe message from the Japan team after Friday's big 41-7 loss to South Africa just two weeks before the Rugby World Cup kicks off was "don't panic, stay positive."
"I think our confidence is up there," center Timothy Lafaele said after the Brave Blossoms' final warm-up game at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, one of the 12 venues for the World Cup.
"Our forwards matched their forwards in the set-piece, and the mauls and scrums, and that's a huge confidence booster leading up to the World Cup."
With Japan's World Cup squad already announced, Joseph does not have the ability to look elsewhere for a quick fix.
Despite the score, South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus saw enough to believe the two sides could possibly meet again in the quarterfinals of the World Cup.