Test Match No. 272: 7th RWC 2011 in New Zealand, game 3

日本語 Photo Journal
21 September 2011; G: Whangarei; R: Dave Pearson
●Japan 18-31 Tonga○
 
Data:
21/09/2011, the 7th WC Pool A
Japan 18 Tonga 31
Northland Events Center, Whangarei
Half-time: 13-18
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant Referees: 1st Alain Rolland (Ireland), 2nd Stuart Terheege (England), 3rd Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Crowd: 17,364
 
JAPAN: 15 Shaun Webb, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Alisi Tupuailei, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (20 Atsushi Hiwasa 52), 8 Takashi Kikutani (capt), 7 Michael Leich, 6 Itaru Taniguchi (19 Vatuvei Sione 52), 5 Tosizumi Kitagawa (18 Hitoshi Ono 57), 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (17 Nozomu Fujita 68), 2 Shota Horie, 1 Hisateru Hirashima.
Reserves: 16 Yusuke Aoki, 21 Takahisa Usuzuki, 22 Murray Williams.
Tries: Hatakeyama, Leich, Tupuailei; Penalty Goal: Webb.
Yellow Card: Arlidge (31, sin-bin, intentional infringement).
 
TONGA: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Fetu'u Vainikilo, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Aplipate Fatafeti, 11 Sukanaivalu Huganga (22 Andrew Ma'ilei 68), 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Taniela Moa (21 Samisoni Fisilau 75), 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Sione Vaiomounga (3 Taufa'ao Filise temp-replacement 64-72 for Aulika, sin-bin), 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Paino Hehea (19 Joseph Tuineau 65), 4 Tukulua Lokotui (18 Halani Aulika 41), 3 Taufa'ao Filise (18 Halani Aulika 41 and 20 Samiu Vahafolau 72), 2 Aleki Lutui (capt) (16 Aloisio Ma'asi 48), 1 Soane Tanga'uiha (17 Alisona Taumalolo 41).
Tries: Lokotui, Ma'afu, Vainikolo; Conversions: Morath (2); Penalty Goals: Morath (4).
Yellow Cards: Aulika (61, sin-bin, repeated infringements), Lokotui (79, sin-bin, repeated infringements).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 7min-try Tonga, Ma'afu; conv. Morath (missed)-0-5, 14min-try Japan, Hatakeyama; conv. Arlidge (missed)-5-5, 15min-try Tonga, Lokotui; conv. Morath-5-12, 26min-try Japan, Leich; conv. Arlidge (missed)-10-12, 30min-pen Tonga, Morath-10-15, 32min-pen Tonga, Morath-10-18, 30min-pen Japan, Webb-13-18, Half-time, 50min-pen Tonga, Morath-13-21, 54min-try Tonga, Vainikolo; conv. Morath-13-28, 63min-try Japan, Tupuailei; conv. Arlidge (missed)-18-28, 68min-pen Tonga, Morath-18-31.
 


On 21 September, the opponent was Tonga, which Japan definitely had to win against. The problems Japan had had since Spring was that they played poorly at the beginning of matches. Also, in this match, Japan moved the ball from their own territory just after the kick off and made mistakes. They were stuck in front of their own goal and allowed Tonga's powerful forwards to score a try. In the 14th minute, prop Hatakeyama scored a try from a lineout in front of the goal. However, at the kick-off just after it, the ball which was supposed to be caught by Japan rebounded to the opponent, then Japan allowed them to lead again. Also, in the 17th minute, Japan allowed Tonga to make a big gain, but flanker Leitch managed this with his fast running.
Also, in the 26th minute, Leitch scored a try by slipping through an opposing tackle. It was a great play. “We wanted to move the ball around to make Tonga tired,” said captain Kikutani. That's why Japan kept moving the ball around from the first half, however, Tonga succeeded in putting pressure on the breakdown (fighting for the ball) and won total nine turnovers. Japan tried to execute their plans too much, so they made their breakdown weak. Japan fell into a pattern of lass as they often also did in domestic matches as well.