Japan Sakura Fifteen vs Spain RWC 2025 – What They Have Been Saying Before The Game

It’s Japan Sakura Fifteen and Spain’s final match at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 at the York Community Stadium on Sunday, September 7th, in Pool C, and both camps have talked about the match and their experiences in England.

Japan Sakura Fifteen – RWC 2025

Head coach Lesley McKenzie said of playing Spain, “We’re really looking forward to the game against Spain. The girls have started the week well, they’ve finished really strong in the way that we would want to after two tough games and performances. This is the week we’re chasing our best performance and putting it all on the field. The girls have certainly gone about it in the right way this week.”

On the Women’s Rugby World Cup, McKenzie added, “It’s been phenomenal, it’s been such a great atmosphere. The crowds, the volunteers, the interest in the tournament has been so enjoyable. It’s really cool to see the players and staff benefit from that experience, having been there when it’s been a bit less than that previously.”

Photo Credit- JRFU / RWC 2025 – Japan Head coach Lesley McKenzie

Iroha Nagata, captain of the Japan Sakura Fifteen and earning her 43rd cap, said of the match on Sunday, “This week we’ve been able to focus on ourselves and prepare really well. We’ve beaten Spain twice in Japan, but this third game will be a very challenging one. We want to bring out our strengths and the Sakura Fifteen standards on the pitch, and finish with a win.

We want to show everything we’ve built up over the past three years in this last game. It’s also an important match for the future of the Sakura Fifteen, so we absolutely want to win and carry that momentum forward. Watching Spain’s two matches during this World Cup, I felt they are a team that has been growing and building momentum. We don’t want to sit back against that pressure—we want to go at them,” added the Japanese captain Nagata.

Photo Credit- JRFU / RWC 2025

Otoka Yoshimura, who plays in the second row and will earn her 32nd cap, said, “Where I feel we’ve grown the most is in the maul. Every maul is different. Even if you’re aligned tactically, you don’t know where the gaps will open until you actually collide. Training that every day in live situations is what I think is paying off now.”

I feel proud to be part of this squad. It’s not just the 32 players here, but also those who didn’t make it to this stage, and we must take responsibility for them as well. It’s not only about performance, but also about delivering a result by winning. I feel truly happy to be able to play a match carrying that responsibility.”

Megumi Abe, who starts at scrumhalf and will run on for her 35th cap, explained the differences in style between her and Moe Tsukui, who started the previous two matches in England, “We’re both very competitive, but I think I have the stronger impression of being bold. In terms of playing style, Moe is very strong in defence, and on attack, she can spot space in behind and kick with accuracy.

For me I like to take on opportunities myself, while also using passes and runs to bring out my teammates. What makes us different is my competitiveness.”

She is also the smallest player at RWC 2025 (147cm) but said, “Even in Japan, I’ve always played against players bigger than me, so it doesn’t really feel any different overseas. But I know I have speed, so I’m always thinking about how to exploit that when the bigger players start to tire,” explained Abe.

Photo Credit – RWC 2025 – JRFU

Spain Women – RWC 2025

Spain (Las Leonas ) Head Coach Juan González said of the seven squad changes, which notably include the omission of regular captain Laura Delgado, “Each match had a plan and we tried to put together a team that closely matched the match plan.

There was already a good number of changes from the first match against Ireland, in which we were looking for a bit of freshness in the players. I think we’re going into the third match in good shape physically, and it also depends a bit on the match plan and having fresh players who can compete for the full 80 minutes.

Laura is a very important player for us, not just now, but throughout her time with the national team. I think what Laura gives to the jersey is very important for all the players.

She’s a role model and will continue to be so when she leaves the national team. I thank her on behalf of Spanish rugby for what she means to the women’s national team, and because she did her best to leave the jersey, which is the most important thing, higher and better than it was when she arrived.”

Photo Credit – RWC 2025

Of Japan and what he expects, the Las Leonas Coach said, “We think it’s going to be a very tight match against Japan, that could come down to the final minutes, and we’re thinking a lot about which team we want to finish and the team profile for the closing stages of the match.

Japan is a good team. We’re coming off a tour a month ago, where they beat us by more than 10 points in two matches. They have very good qualities, good footwork, and their speed is also very good, as well as being strong in the maul. They have many qualities, and we think it’s going to be a great rugby match where those qualities will be seen.”

Lourdes Alameda, the Spanish captain, said, “Set pieces are very important for both them and us. We’re also looking at how Japan plays to adapt to their strengths and try to cover up our weaknesses….Japan rarely make mistakes, and so we have to try to take advantage of every opportunity we can, and even minimise our own errors.”

And of Rugby World Cup 2025, Alameda added, “One of the differences with the previous Rugby World Cups is the visibility this one has. Also, the crowd turnout, since England invested a lot so we’re in much better shape. It gave the teams a boost because when you play in an empty stadium, you play one way, but when it’s in a full stadium, there’s always an energy that improves the players and the teams. It’s one of the biggest differences I see.”

Photo Credit – RWC 2025 / World Rugby

Japan Sakura 15 Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 News

• Japan Sakura Fifteen vs Spain Preview – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
• Sakura Fifteen Fail to Reach RWC 2025 Quarterfinals But Put Up a Valiant Effort Against the Black Ferns.
• Japan Sakura 15 Put Up a Brave Fight But Lost to Ireland in RWC 2025 Opener.
• Defending World Champions Black Ferns Up Next for Sakura Fifteen at RWC 2025.