Japan qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand with an emphatic 94-5 victory over Hong Kong in the HSBC Asian Five Nations Top Five competition in Tokyo last week. A slick Japanese outfit went on a 14-try rampage in their final game in the qualifying campaign to grab the solitary direct entry for the World Cup given to Asia. There was more heartache for Hong Kong as Kazakhstan clinched the runner-up spot with a 32-25 win over South Korea in Incheon to claim the berth in the cross-continental play-off for RWC 2011 against Uruguay. Flanker Anton Rudoy scored a hat trick as Kazakhstan scored four tries to secure the crucial bonus point that saw them edge ahead of Hong Kong in the standings. Having posted half-century victories over all its opponents – South Korea (71-3), the Arabian Gulf (60-5) and Kazakhstan (101-7) – Japan continued in its merry fashion as it out-muscled Hong Kong at the breakdown, and pushed their opponent off its own ball in the scrums to stitch together another convincing victory. Japan will play in Pool A at the World Cup alongside hosts New Zealand, France, Tonga and Canada. Japan, the only Asian country to appear at the World Cup, led 45-0 at halftime, scoring seven tries including a hat trick from right winger Alisi Tupuailei whose powerful running left the Hong Kong defense clutching at straws. Kazakhstan finished the tournament with 13 points, one more than Hong Kong. Unbeaten Japan finished with 24 points. The Arabian Gulf, which will be replaced by the newly formed United Arab Emirates Rugby Association in next year's Top 5 competition finished in fourth spot on 10 points. Sri Lanka, champions of the HSBC A5N division I tournament will be promoted at the expense of Korea will be relegated to Division I.
