Japan set to host 'special' World Cup

Japan has been a quiet presence on rugby's international stage for decades, but now the Far East nation is set to soak up the limelight.

New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France and the UK have hosted the Rugby World Cup in the tournament's 32-year history, but Friday's curtain-raiser between Japan and Russia -- the tournament's first game on Asian soil -- will mark a step into the unknown for the sport.

"I think the world can learn so much from Japan," Michael Leitch, captain of the country's rugby team, told CNN Sport earlier this year. "They're so respectful in everything they do."

CNN