Chilly reception awaits Lions in Tokyo

Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies, back in Johannesburg after his second season in Japan's domestic competition, confirmed that the bulk of his teammates will require some adjustments to the sudden change in conditions.

Jantjies (Shining Arcs), centre Lionel Mapoe (Spears) and loose forward Warwick Tecklenburg (Kamaishi) have all returned to the Ellis Park-based franchise after completing their obligations in the Top League.

Along with their teammates they are going through their pre-season build-up in depressing heat that often reaches the lower to mid 30s (degrees Celsius).

However, they will be playing in freezing temperatures at the height of the Japanese winter – with advanced predictions suggesting rain and temperatures nearing zero on match day, Saturday, February 27.

While South African winters can also get cold, games are seldom playing in such freezing weather. Even in the middle of the harsh New Zealand winter the players will feel a bit more "comfortable".

Jantjies said he is enjoying being back in South Africa, where pre-season is marked by high temperatures, after some chilly weather in the last month or so of the Japanese winter.

"But I will be back there [Japan] in a fortnight," he told rugby365 in an interview.

"In February and March it will be very cold there, their coldest time of the year," adding that Japan has a "dry cold".

"The guys are excited to face up to the Sunwolves in the opening game," he said of their historic first trip to Tokyo.

"We will be in Japan for just three days, so most of our preparation will be done at home."

Jantjies cautioned his teammates to not make the same mistakes as the Springboks did at the World Cup last year and underestimate the Japanese underdogs.

"I will tell the players to expect nothing less than when we play against the Chiefs, Sharks, Bulls or Stormers," the Bok flyhalf told rugby365.

"Our mindset and intensity should be the same as for any of the established and big teams.

"Those of us who have played there know how Japan teams play, how they defend, what they enjoy and what they don' enjoy.

"I would be able to give the guys some guidelines in that regard," he said, adding: "It will be vital that we get our own preparation right for the opening match."

Even without a number of their World Cup stars, who are playing their Super Rugby elsewhere – like star fullback Ayumu Goromaru (Reds), scrumhalf Fumiaki Tanaka (Highlanders), prop Hiroshi Yamashita (Chiefs), loose forward and World Cup captain Michael Leitch (Chiefs), centre Kotaro Matsushima (Rebels) and centre Male Sa'u (Blues) – Jantjies feels they will field a formidable team.

"They will still have quality, players who have played in the top league," the Lions No.10 said.

"The Japanese Top League is getting better each year.

"They also have a number of overseas players [who have bolstered the side], like the Samoan flyhalf, who plays for Suntory, Tusi Pisi."

Apart from Pisi, other imports include Springbok Riaan Viljoen at fullback, Samoan Fa'atiga Lemalu, Argentinian scrumhalf Tomás Leonardi, Australian Ed Quirk, New Zealander Tim Bond, Tongan Liaki Moli, American Andrew Durutalo, New Zealander Derek Carpenter and Tongan Paea Mifi Poseti.

"Their coaching staff are also people who know their rugby," Jantjies said, adding that despite the lack of preparations – they have had just on six weeks – the Lions simply can't afford to underestimate them.

By Jan de Koning

@King365ed

@rugby365com