Japan rugby mauled by Sumo

Fighting Talk: The Cherry Blossoms are taking tips from the big boys

Coaches are always coming up with innovative ideas to better their teams and improve spirits. Remember Eddie Jones and the cannibal scenario?

Japan coach John Kirwan, no stranger to a spot of innovation himself in his playing days, has thus opted to delve deep into Japan's culture in order to beef up his team's forward wrestling powers: namely pitting his men against Japan's most colossal pack, the sumo wrestlers.

Obviously, there's no ball. But the two disciplines are not so far removed from one another, as Kirwan explained to Reuters.

"There's techniques you can use in the scrum," said Kirwan.

"The speed at the face-off can help with the hit in the scrum."

His players were not quite so enthusiastic about taking such a battering.

"It's a totally different ball game," winced Japan lock Hitoshi Ono, sporting the traditional buttock-bearing "mawashi" loincloth worn by sumo wrestlers. "These boys are huge!"

It now remains to be seen whether the Japanese pack will clap hands, stomp legs, drink a mouthful of power water, and throw salt onto the pitch before scrums...