Test Match No. 249: The 4th IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2009, game 4

日本語 Photo Journal
3 July 2009 in Suva
●Japan 39-40 Fiji○
Lost at the very end
 
Data:
03/07/2009, IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2009
Japan 39 Fiji 40
TFL National Stadium, Suva, Fiji
Half-time: 14-20
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: 1st Tui Komiti (Samoa), 2nd Eva Mafi (Tonga)
Crowd: 5,000
 
JAPAN: 15 Shaun Webb, 14 Yuta Imamura, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Jack Tarrant, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Takashi Kikutani (capt), 7 Touetsu Taufa (19 Yoshitaka Nakayama 28), 6 Masakazu Toyota, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatayama, 2 Yusuke Aoki, 1 Hisateru Hirashima (17 Hiroshi Yamashita temp-bs 61-67).
Reserves:, 18 Hitoshi Ono, 20 Tomoki Yoshida, 21 Ayumu Goromaru, 22 Koji Tomioka.
Tries: Aoki (2), Taufa, Tarrant, Kikutani; Conversions: Nicholas (2), Arlidge (2); Penalty Goals: Arlidge (2).
 
FUJI: 15 Taniela Maranvuwasawasa (22 Filimone Bolavucu 62), 14 Ropate Ratu (21 Waisele Sukanaveita 73), 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Seremaia Baikeinuku, 11 Iliesa Keresoni, 10 Waisea Luveniyali (20 Ravai Fatiaki 65), 9 Nemia Kenatale Ranuku, 8 Natani Talei, 7 Sean Morrell (18 Anthony Wise 61), 6 Malakai Volau, 5 Kele Leawere (capt), 4 Josefa Domolailai, 3 Alefoso Yalayaltabua (17 Aisake Tarogi 64), 2 Sunia Vuli (16 Sireli Ledua 61), 1 Graham Dewes.
Tries: Kenatale, Goneva, Ledua, Talei; Conversions: Baikeinuku (4); Penalty Goals: Baikeinuku (4).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 6min-try Japan, Taufa; conv. Nicholas-7-0, 10min-pen Fiji, Baikeinuku-7-3, 17min-try Japan, Tarrant; conv. Nicholas-14-3, 20min-try Fiji, Kenatale; conv. Baikeinuku -14-10, 22min-pen Japan, Nicholas (missed), 27min-pen Fiji, Baikeinuku-14-13, 32min-pen Japan, Nicholas (missed), 38min-try Fiji, Goneva; conv. Baikeinuku-14-20, Half-time, 43min-try Japan, Aoki; conv. Arlidge-21-20, 48min-try Japan, Aoki; conv. Arlidge (missed)-26-20, 50min-pen Fiji, Baikeinuku-26-23, 54min-pen Japan, Arlidge-29-23, 60min-pen Fiji, Baikeinuku-29-26, 69min-try Japan, Kikutani; conv. Arlidge-36-26, 73min-try Fiji, Ledua; conv. Baikeinuku-36-33, 75min-pen Japan, Arlidge-39-33, 79min-try Fiji, Talei; conv. Baikeinuku-39-40.
 


Japan put up a strong, fierce battle against the power and speed of Fiji. It was an intense, great, sea-saw game to the end. Although they conceded a try from a regretable mistake, their play lived up to our expectation. When Kikutani jumped in to score a try in the 29th minute of the second half, to make it 36-26 following Aoki's two tries by pushing mauls, I was certain we would win. However, it suddenly became alarming when Fiji scored a try in the 33rd minute to cut the lead to 3. Japan attacked and scored a penalty goal between right and centre in the 35th minute to give Japan a lead of 6 points. However, a try by Fiji's number 8 and a conversion turned the game around for good. Although we lost, the reinforcement scheme is bearing its fruit. We are almost there.