A selection of the best quotes from coaches and players at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan on Monday.

‘Our team wants to make the top eight. The last World Cup Japan did very, very well but still didn’t make the top eight, so that’s been the target all along, that’s our team goal.’ – Coach Jamie Joseph on Japan’s goal.

‘Pressure is a big part of the job and I guess I’ve been in some pretty big-pressure situations. My mother died a month ago, it’s a big pressure for me being the only boy in the family.’ – Joseph on his personal challenges.

‘It is what it is. You play, you don’t play, you play 20, you play 80, you play 60 – whatever it is. I am confident in my game and what I’ll bring if I am given the opportunity.’ – Wallabies scrumhalf Will Genia on getting limited game time.

‘I was seeing about 30 different Wallabies players at the time, so I was a bit of a liability to my team. I had to make a call and come off the field.’ – Samoa captain Jack Lam on the eye injury he sustained against Australia in a warm-up. 

‘It’s a big motivating factor when you lose 92-7.’ – Tonga assistant coach Dan Cron putting a positive spin on last week’s defeat by the All Blacks. 

‘It was just a quiet singalong, but good fun. Matt Taylor [Scotland’s defence coach] was probably the best. It is his birthday today and he sang a few songs. He is a better dancer than he is a singer.’ – Scotland defence coach Mike Blair on the cultural experience offered in Japan.

‘In terms of the quality of the grounds, they are incredible. There’s so much pride in the preparation of the surface. If it rains, you’d think that surface will probably still be OK. If there’s typhoons, that’s a little bit different.’ – Ireland scrum coach Greg Feek reveals his concern about Japanese weather.

‘You have got to be enjoying it, that is the No 1 thing. It’s a great sport we are in, it’s a great opportunity and this is a great facility. I think I have used the word “great” four times there, but that is pretty much what it is.’ – Australia skills coach Mick Byrne on being part of the World Cup.

Quotes compilation supplied by Rugby World Cup

Photo: Scottish Rugby