Test Match No. 278: Pacific Nations Cup, game 1

日本語 Photo Journal
5 June 2012; G: Mizuho; R: John Lacey (IRE)
●Japan 19-25 Fiji○
 
Data:
5/6/2012, 7th Pacific Nations Cup 1st Match
Japan 19 Fiji 25
Mizuho Rugby Stadium
Half-time 9 - 14
Refree: John Lacey (Ireland)
Crowd: 6,036
 
JAPAN: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Toshiaki Hirose (capt) (22 Yasunori Nagatomo 74), 13 Tomohiro Senba, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa (21 Ryan Nicholas 53), 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Kosei Ono, 9 Atsushi Hiwasa (20 Jun Fujii 72), 8 Michael Leitch (19 Takashi Kikutani 64), 7 Takamichi Sasaki, 6 Yuta Mochizuki (18 Shoji Ito 65), 5 Hitoshi Ono (19 45), 4 Shinya Makabe, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Takeshi Kizu (16 Ryuhei Arita 64), 1 Yusuke Nagae (17 Hiroshi Yamashita 61) .
Reserves:
Coach: Eddie Jones.
Tries: Penalty try; Conversions: Goromaru; Penalty Goals: Goromaru (4).
 
FIJI: 15 Simeli Koniferedi, 14 Waisea Nayacalevu (22 Benedito Koroi 72), 13 Vereniki Goneva (21 Alosio Buto 60), 12 Isake Katonibau, 11 Watisoni Votu, 10 Setareki Koroilagilagi , 9 Nikola Matawalu (20 Kelemedi Bola 72), 8 Netani Talei (capt)(18 Samu Bola 65), 7 Malakai Ravulo, 6 Iliesa Ratuva, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Apisai Naikatini (19 Kelepi Ketedromo 53), 3 Graham Dewes (17 Waisea Daveta 56), 2 Viliame Veikoso(16 Seremaia Naureure 70) , 1 Setefano Somoca.
Reserves:
Coach: Inoke Male.
Tries: Katonibau, Nayacalevu, Goneva; Conversions: Koroilagilagi(2); Penalty Goal: Koroilagilagi(2)
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 5min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-3-0, 10min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-6-0, 19min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-9-0, 20min-try Fiji, Isake Katonibau; conv. Satareki Koroilagilagi-9-7, 30min-try Fiji, Waisea Nayacalevu; conv. Satareki Koroilagilagi-9-14, 41min-pen Fiji, Satareki Koroilagilagi-9-17, 44min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-12-17, 51min-pen Fiji, Satareki Koroilagilagi-12-20, 59min-try Fiji, Vereniki Goneva; conv. Satareki Koroilagilagi(missed)-12-25, 60min-try Japan, Penalty try; conv. Ayumu Goromaru 19-25.
 


The mental status which was different from previous matches might have been influential here. At the beginning, they showed such a negative play that would never have been expected from the Japan national team since head coach Jones started leading. Sasaki received the ball within their own 22-meter line with enough room, but then he chose to claim territory by kicking. “Now we are seeking ways for Japan to win in world rugby. I believe the key to achieving this is to continue attacking. Kicking should never be our option.” It was a play option completely different from the approach of continued attacking, which had been implemented by head coach Jones since he became the head coach. “I might have displayed some lack of judgement, so didn't have enough capacity to make the right decision. I'll never do the same again.” Sasaki reflected very much after the match, but on the other hand, it seemed that there was no call from outside, therefore it was also certain that players who lacked extra capacity went beyond just Sasaki. Mistakes at important moments were influential and the only try Japan could score until the end was just an awarded try from a maul in the 22nd minute of the second half.
In reverse, as Fiji's vice caption and centre Aisake Katonibau took a look back after the match saying “Japan made many mistakes, and we could take advantage of them”, Japan conceded three tries by allowing counterattacks from turnovers where Japan had attacked. Japan lost with a 6-point difference. Nevertheless, after the match, the Japan players still had a positive atmosphere. Captain Hirose said “It was disappointing that we were not able to win, but we have no time to be depressed, and our play was not the sort we should be depressed with. We are still a developing team. To get better in the future, this match gave us a really good example to study.”