日本語 Photo Journal
26 May 2002 at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
●Japan 29-41 Tonga○
Lost a close game to Tonga and faced challenges to overcome
Data:
26/05/2001, Lipobitan D challenge
Japan 29 Tonga 41
Prefectual Kumagaya Rugby Grounds, Kumagaya, Saitama
Half-time: 10-17
Referee: George Joseph Peter Ayoub (Australia)
Touch Judges: 1st Shinsuke shimoi (Japan), 2nd Shinji Aida (Japan), 3rd Kazuhito Taniguchi (Japan)
Crowd: 13,000
JAPAN: 15 Takashi Yoshida, 14 Ryohei Miki, 13 Hideki Nanba (capt), (22 Hideyuki Yoshida 75),12 Yukio Motoki, 11 Toru Kurihara, 10 Kensuke Iwabuchi, 9 Wataru Murata (20 Shinichi Tsukida 55), 8 Takeomi Ito, 7 Deen Anglesey, 6 Naoya 'Tofu' Okubo (19 Eiji Yamamoto 79), 5 Luatangi Vatuvei, 4 Kazuya Koizumi (18 Adam Parker 58), 3 Tsuyoshi Kinoshita (17 Ryo Yamamura 66), 2 Masaaki Sakata, 1 Shin Hasegawa.
Reserves: 16 Masahito Yamamoto, 21 Soshi Fuchigami.
Tries: Iwabuchi (2), Kurihara, Nanba, Motoki; Conversions: Kurihara (2).
TONGA: 15 Maunga Kafatolu, 14 Simana Mafileo, 13 Gus Ledger (22 Fepiko Tatafu 49), 12 Andrew Mailei, 11 Sam Hala, 10 Pierre Hola, 9 Tony Alatini, 8 Nisifolo Naufahu (18 Va'a Toloke 66), 7 Ipolito Fenikitau, 6 Viliami Vaki (16 Ma'afu Pale 84), 5 Feleti Fakaongo (19 Benhur Kivalu 61), 4 Inoke Afeaki (capt), 3 Tevita Taumoepeau (17 Latiume Maka 39), 2 Viliami Ma'asi, 1 John Pale.
Reserves: 20 Nick Hau, 21 Vikalani Afeaki.
Tries: Taumoepeau, Mailei, Hala, Maka, Kivalu, Mafileo; Conversions: Hola (4); Penalty Goal: Hola.
Yellow Card: Toloke (73, sin-bin, high tuckle).
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 2min-try Tonga, Taumoepeau; conv. Hola-0-7, 7min-try Japan, Kurihara; conv. Kurihara (missed)-5-7, 11min-pen Tonga, Hola-5-10, 21min-try Tonga, Mailei; conv. Hola-5-17, 30min-try Japan, Nanba; conv. Kurihara (missed)-10-17, Half-time, 44min-try Tonga, Hala; conv. Hola-10-24, 47min-try Japan, Motoki; conv. Kurihara-17-24, 57min-try Tonga, Maka; conv. Hola (missed)-17-29, 76min-try Japan, Iwabuchi; conv. Kurihara-24-29, 67min-try Tonga, Kivalu; conv. Hola (missed)-24-24, 82min-try Japan, Iwabuchi; conv. Kurihara (missed)-29-34, 86min-try Tonga, Mafileo; conv. Hola-29-41.
Game 2 of the send-off game for the Asia region qualifier for the fifth RWC was against Tonga at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium. It was a 29-41 loss but close in terms of number of tries (5-6). As a result, Japan lost a game they could have won. Japan was overwhelmed by the strength, spontaneity and masterfulness of Tonga's forwards, and they did not have enough time to structure the game. They also could not get the rhythm because of the disruption of kick-offs and lineouts due to the wind. These showed their inexperience and where to be reflected on. Although it was a game they wanted to win, it proved that the overall level of the team had been raised: although nine of the starting lineups were different from the match against Russia, the players were attacking near individually strong opponents. However, as the mistakes and the concentration in the final 10 minutes showed, there were areas to refine.
26 May 2002 at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
●Japan 29-41 Tonga○
Lost a close game to Tonga and faced challenges to overcome
Data:
26/05/2001, Lipobitan D challenge
Japan 29 Tonga 41
Prefectual Kumagaya Rugby Grounds, Kumagaya, Saitama
Half-time: 10-17
Referee: George Joseph Peter Ayoub (Australia)
Touch Judges: 1st Shinsuke shimoi (Japan), 2nd Shinji Aida (Japan), 3rd Kazuhito Taniguchi (Japan)
Crowd: 13,000
JAPAN: 15 Takashi Yoshida, 14 Ryohei Miki, 13 Hideki Nanba (capt), (22 Hideyuki Yoshida 75),12 Yukio Motoki, 11 Toru Kurihara, 10 Kensuke Iwabuchi, 9 Wataru Murata (20 Shinichi Tsukida 55), 8 Takeomi Ito, 7 Deen Anglesey, 6 Naoya 'Tofu' Okubo (19 Eiji Yamamoto 79), 5 Luatangi Vatuvei, 4 Kazuya Koizumi (18 Adam Parker 58), 3 Tsuyoshi Kinoshita (17 Ryo Yamamura 66), 2 Masaaki Sakata, 1 Shin Hasegawa.
Reserves: 16 Masahito Yamamoto, 21 Soshi Fuchigami.
Tries: Iwabuchi (2), Kurihara, Nanba, Motoki; Conversions: Kurihara (2).
TONGA: 15 Maunga Kafatolu, 14 Simana Mafileo, 13 Gus Ledger (22 Fepiko Tatafu 49), 12 Andrew Mailei, 11 Sam Hala, 10 Pierre Hola, 9 Tony Alatini, 8 Nisifolo Naufahu (18 Va'a Toloke 66), 7 Ipolito Fenikitau, 6 Viliami Vaki (16 Ma'afu Pale 84), 5 Feleti Fakaongo (19 Benhur Kivalu 61), 4 Inoke Afeaki (capt), 3 Tevita Taumoepeau (17 Latiume Maka 39), 2 Viliami Ma'asi, 1 John Pale.
Reserves: 20 Nick Hau, 21 Vikalani Afeaki.
Tries: Taumoepeau, Mailei, Hala, Maka, Kivalu, Mafileo; Conversions: Hola (4); Penalty Goal: Hola.
Yellow Card: Toloke (73, sin-bin, high tuckle).
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 2min-try Tonga, Taumoepeau; conv. Hola-0-7, 7min-try Japan, Kurihara; conv. Kurihara (missed)-5-7, 11min-pen Tonga, Hola-5-10, 21min-try Tonga, Mailei; conv. Hola-5-17, 30min-try Japan, Nanba; conv. Kurihara (missed)-10-17, Half-time, 44min-try Tonga, Hala; conv. Hola-10-24, 47min-try Japan, Motoki; conv. Kurihara-17-24, 57min-try Tonga, Maka; conv. Hola (missed)-17-29, 76min-try Japan, Iwabuchi; conv. Kurihara-24-29, 67min-try Tonga, Kivalu; conv. Hola (missed)-24-24, 82min-try Japan, Iwabuchi; conv. Kurihara (missed)-29-34, 86min-try Tonga, Mafileo; conv. Hola-29-41.
Game 2 of the send-off game for the Asia region qualifier for the fifth RWC was against Tonga at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium. It was a 29-41 loss but close in terms of number of tries (5-6). As a result, Japan lost a game they could have won. Japan was overwhelmed by the strength, spontaneity and masterfulness of Tonga's forwards, and they did not have enough time to structure the game. They also could not get the rhythm because of the disruption of kick-offs and lineouts due to the wind. These showed their inexperience and where to be reflected on. Although it was a game they wanted to win, it proved that the overall level of the team had been raised: although nine of the starting lineups were different from the match against Russia, the players were attacking near individually strong opponents. However, as the mistakes and the concentration in the final 10 minutes showed, there were areas to refine.