Test Match No. 236: The 3rd IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2008, game 2

日本語 Photo Journal
15 June 2008 at Yurtec Stadium Sendai
○Japan 35-13 Tonga●
Good win against Tonga with a bonus point awarded
 
Data:
15/06/2008, IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2008
Japan 35 Tonga 13
Yurtec Stadium Sendai (former Sendai Stadium), Sendai
Half-time: 12-6
Referee: Willie Roos (South Africa) (56min, Roos injured ankle in a ruck, Veldsman took over)
Touch Judges: 1st Louis François (called 'François') Veldsman (South Africa), 2nd Shinji Aida (Japan), 3rd Taku Otsuki (Japan)
Crowd: 6,304
 
JAPAN: 15 Shaun Webb (21 Bryce Robins 64), 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa (22 Christian Loamanu 72), 10 James Arlidge, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (20 Tomoki Yoshida 79), 8 Takuro Miuchi (capt) (19 Yoshitaka Nakayama 64), 7 Hare Makiri, 6 Takashi Kikutani, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Hitoshi Ono (18 Tomoaki Taniguchi 52), 3 Tomokazu Soma, 2 Yusuke Aoki (17 Naonori Mizuyama 79), 1 Tatsukichi Nishiura (17 Yuta Inose 72).
Tries: Kikutani, Onozawa, Webb, Robins; Penalty Goals: Arlidge (5).
 
TONGA: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Tupou Palu (22 Sione Mone Tu'ipulotu 51), 13 Hudson Tonga'uiha, 12 kaiongo Tupou, 11 Sione Lavaka, 10 Pierre Hora (21 Fangatapu Apikotoa 59), 9 Soane Havea (20 Enele Taufa 74), 8 Lotu Filipine (19 Samiu Ika 72), 7 Nili Latu (capt), 6 Tevita Fifita (18 Sione Timani 54), 5 Emosi Kauhenga, 4 Joshua Afu, 3 Tonga Lea'aetoa (17 Sateki Mata'u 72), 2 Viliami Ma'asi, 1 Semisi Telefoni.
Try: Filipine; Conversion: Hora; Penalty Goals: Hora (2).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 3min-pen Tonga, Hola-0-3, 4min-pen Japan, Arlidge-3-3, 6min-pen Tonga, Hola-3-6, 15min-pen Japan, Arlidge (missed), 26min-pen Japan, Arlidge-6-6, 31min-pen Japan, Arlidge-9-6, 36min-pen Japan, Arlidge (missed), 39min-pen Japan, Arlidge-12-6, Half-time, 43min-pen Japan, Arlidge-15-6, 46min-try Japan, Kikutani; conv. Arlidge (missed)-20-6, 50min-try Tonga, Filipine; conv. Hola-20-13, 55min-try Japan, Onozawa; conv. Arlidge (missed)-25-13, 59min-try Japan, Webb; conv. Arlidge (missed)-30-13, 79min-try Japan, Robins; conv. Nicholas (missed)-35-13.
 


Japan scored four tries and beat Tonga 35-13. Tonga is globally esteemed for their vigorous efforts to put up a good 20-36 game against South Africa, the winner of the World Cup last year. Last year, Japan won a tight game against Tonga 20-17. This time, Japan's reinforcement scheme worked and they won a good victory. The two were neck and neck in the first half. Japan was pushing hard but could not score a try. At the break the score was 12-6, four penalties to two penalties. Japan scored a penalty in the 3rd minute of the second half, and a try in the 6th minute. Later, when Tonga started to lose focus, Japan attacked hard. Japan conceded only one try to Tonga and won the match. They earned five points including a bonus point for scoring more than four tries.