Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale says Australia is “feeling the love” as they officially embark on their Rugby World Cup campaign but the buzz isn't stopping the team from getting down to business.
The Wallabies have been based in Odawara since arriving in Japan and they have been swamped by support from locals even before the official tournament period began.
Beale said the Japan tournament already had a different feel to the past two World Cups, in England and New Zealand, and the side was keen to embrace it.
“To be in Japan for the first time, the passionate Japanese fans, they're getting around it and supporting all nations at their home bases and to be here at Odawara certainly feeling the love and it's just great to see,” he said.
“It just builds that excitement and for all involved and just makes us eager to get out there and start playing.”
On Wednesday, the Aussies trained in front of more than 1000 fans at the Shiroyama Athletic Track and it gave some of the first-timers a sense of what they’ll be feeling at rugby’s biggest tournament.
One local even brought along a didgeridoo for players to sign and Beale played the instrument out the window of the team bus.
Hooker Jordan Uelese, in his first World Cup at just 22, said the sight of so many people in a foreign country supporting the Wallabies was “surreal”.
“It was pretty surreal. we were training and they just kept coming in for like 20 minutes, the lines were huge as we were arriving into training," he said.
“Obviously it's our first World Cup, so there's obviously a buzz and things we've heard about but it was pretty crazy, pretty surreal to be here.
“It still really hasn't sunk in but it's great, the community here in Japan and the people here are just so welcoming.
“They're probably the best fans I've ever been around every country I've been to, always willing to take a photo, really there to support you and have gifts sometimes.
“They're awesome.”
Uelese isn’t the only one immersing himself the Japanese culture in his first World Cup, with the hooker nominating prop Taniela Tupou as the main lover of the host country.
“I think everyone loves Japan, the culture and the people here are so nice,” he said.
“Probably one guy, he probably embraces it a bit too much, probably Taniela. He loves it, he's a fan favourite, loves a bit of local cuisine as well.
“Taniela Tupou is probably the front runner there.”
While the buzz and the support is unavoidable, for some others in the team, like scrumhalf Nic White, the blinkers are firmly on amid the surrounding noise.
White capped off a remarkable year with his World Cup inclusion, with the halfback admitting the World Cup was not even on his radar.
“Definitely 12 months ago, didn't even consider this an option,” he said.
“It's been pretty narrow-minded for me in terms of just getting home and making squads and making teams and things like that.
“I haven't had the luxury of thinking ahead too far because this was so far from where my thought process was a little while ago.
“It's exciting but that narrow-mindedness has done me well.
Skipper Michael Hooper firmly falls into that category, but his determination and indeed optimism came through when asked about how this World Cup compared to his first in 2015.
Hooper was quick to put the lengthiest of timeframes on his answer, clearly focused on ensuring his team made it back to the true business end of the tournament.
“I don't know, this is day one. I don't know, I'll be able to answer that in two months,” he said.
“I'm so involved in the moment right now, so involved in what we have on today, what training is going to look like, where we go next week, what Sapporo's going to look like, how that ground's going to be.
“So I'm not thinking big picture at the moment, probably why I can't give you a good answer, it's the fact I'm just living in the moment right now."
Coach Michael Cheika said no matter how the players absorb the tournament, the staff would ensure they didn't lose the reasons for being there.
"We as a team will have - from a management point of view - will look after all that for players and make sure everyone is looked after that is coming to watch and all that stuff so players don’t have to think about anything except their prep," he said.
"But also keeping balance too mate, there’s no point doing 24/7 head in there, you’ve got to be obsessed with winning but then you’ve got to have the counter-balance alongside of that to make sure you’re fresh in the mind and you’re living how you want to live these next eight weeks.
"We’ve talked about it we know what we need from a concentration point of view and when we can let ourselves loose a little bit around that and when we can have no distractions, just focus on the job at hand."
The Wallabies take on Fiji on Saturday September 21 at the Sapporo Dome, kicking off at 1:45pm local, 2:45pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Network Ten and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.
