Kirwan named as new Japan coach
Former Italy coach John Kirwan who won 63 caps on the wing for the All Blacks officially takes up his new post on the 1st January 2007 as Coach to the Japan National side. Kirwan will act as an advisor at the World Cup qualifiers when Japan take on Hong Kong and South Korea. He has been tasked with winning at least two games in France 2007. A tall order as it will probably mean beating Fiji and Canada as Japan are not expected to beat Australia or wales when they join Pool ‘B’ as Asia 1.