Test Match No. 251: Canada's fifth visit to Japan, game 2

日本語 Photo Journal
21 November 2009 at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
○Japan 27-6 Canada●
Conceded no tries to make it consecutive test wins
 
Data:
21/11/2009, Lipobitan D Challenge 2009, Canada Tour, 2nd Test Match
Japan 27 Canada 6
Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground, Tokyo
Half-time: 12-3
Referee: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: 1st Keith Brown (New Zealand), 2nd Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan)
Crowd: 10,175
 
JAPAN: 15 Go Aruga (21 James Arlidge 2nd Half 40), 14 Kosuke Endo (22 Ayumu Goromaru 29), 13 Alisi Tupuailei, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Shaun Webb, 9 Tomoki Yoshida, 8 Takashi Kikutani (capt), 7 Philip O'Reilly (19 Touetsu Taufa 51), 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa (18 Shinya Makabe 65), 4 Hitoshi Ono, 3 Kensuke Hatayama, 2 Shota Horie (16 Takeshi Kizu 74), 1 Naoki Kawamata (17 Hisateru Hirashima 74).
Reserve: 20 Yuki Yatomi.
Tries: Aruga, Hatakeyama, Leitch, Goromaru; Conversions: Webb, Nicholas; Penalty Goal: Webb.
 
CANADA: 15 James Prichard (21 Nathan Hirayama 53), 14 Ciaran Hearn (22 Sean Duke 28), 13 Matt Evans, 12 Nick Blevins, 11 Justin Mensah-Coker, 10 Ander Monro, 9 Sean White (20 Phil Mack 57), 8 Aaron Carpenter (18 Chauncey O'Toole 62), 7 Adam Kleeberger, 6 Nanyak Dala, 5 Tyler Hotson, 4 Jebb Sinclair, 3 Doug Wooldrige (17 Dan Pletch 62), 2 Pat Riordan (capt), 1 Kevin Tkachuk.
Reserves: 16 Mike Pletch, 19 Mark MacSween; Penalty Goals: Prichard, Monro.
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 9min-try Japan, Aruga; conv. Nicholas (missed)-5-0, 20min-try Japan, Hatakeyama; conv. Nicholas-12-0, 23min-pen Canada, Prichard-12-3, Half-time, 48min-try Japan, Leitch; conv. Webb-19-3, 56min-pen Canada, Monro-19-6, 59min-pen Japan, Webb (missed), 61min-pen Japan, Webb-22-6, 72min-try Japan, Goromaru; conv. Nicholas (missed)-27-6.
 


Japan picked Nicholas and Tupuailei, known for their strong tackling as centres, and maintained an airtight defence throughout the game. Japan also attacked well. In the 9th minute of the first half, Tupuailei made a breakthrough and Aruga scored the opening try. In addition, Hatayama jumped in to score a try from a maul, and Nicholas added a conversion to hold a first half lead by 12-3. In the 8th minute of the second half, Kikutani made a vertical breakthrough from a sequence of quick attacks, gave a “backs-quality” pass, and Leitch scored a try. Kikutani's approaching speed and timely passes surprised me. Webb scored a penalty in the 21st minute. In the 32nd minute, Webb, playing fullback at the time, intercepted and Goromaru scored a finishing try. Webb secured his place as the playmaker. Japan switched seats with Canada in the world rankings, and attained their objective of the season, to be the 12th in the world.