Rugby: Japan unpredictable, we'll have to be alert says Lamaro

Japan is an unpredictable team and

Italy will have to be alert against the Brave Blossoms in their

debut in the new Nations Championship in Tokyo Saturday, captain

Michele Lamaro said Friday.

The traditional Captain's Run at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya Stadium

was the final stage of the Azzurri's preparations before their

summer tour debut, which, after the match against Japan,

includes matches against New Zealand on July 11 in Wellington

and Australia on July 18 in Perth.

According to Lamaro, the match against Japan will be the

"trickiest test," despite the much superior calibre of the All

Blacks and Wallabies, "both because we haven't played for a

couple of months and because there will be special adversity to

face.

"Not playing together since the Six Nations, with several of us

not having played a match on the pitch for several months,"

Lamaro explained in the pre-match press conference, "will be a

challenge. "Physical fitness is a key focus. We've prepared as

best we can in recent camps, focusing heavily on contact

training, precisely to be ready for this match. We're confident

we'll be ready."

According to the captain, Japan "is a dangerous team; they have

a top-level championship, with high-quality players.

"They can keep the ball for long periods and are highly

unpredictable, even exploring areas of the pitch where Northern

Hemisphere teams often don't go. You need to always be alert,

and readiness will be crucial."

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