Test Match No. 280: Pacific Nations Cup, game 3

日本語 Photo Journal
17 June 2012; G: Chichibunomiya; R: John Lacey (IRE)
●Japan 26-27 Samoa○
 
Data:
17/6/2012, 7th Pacific Nations Cup 1st Match
Japan 26 Samoa 27
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Half-time 16 - 14
Refree: John Lacey (Ireland)
Crowd: 5,386
 
JAPAN: 15 Ayumu Goromaru (22 Yasunori Nagatomo 68), 14 Toshiaki Hirose (capt), 13 Tomohiro Senba, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa (21 Kosei Ono 57), 9 Atsushi Hiwasa (20 Jun Fujii 70), 8 Hendrik Tui, 7 Yuta Mochizuki (19 Takamichi Sasaki 57), 6 Takashi Kikutani, 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Shinya Makabe (18 Shoji Ito 61), 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (17 Hiroshi Yamashita 63), 2 Takeshi Kizu (16 Ryuhei Arita 54), 1 Yusuke Nagae.
Reserves:
Coach: Eddie Jones.
Tries: Tui, Kikutani (2), Hirose; Penalty Goals: Goromaru (2).
 
SAMOA: 15 Fa'atonia Autagavaia, 14 Paul Perez, 13 Lolo Lui, 12 Paol Williams, 11 David Lemi (capt), 10 Ki Anufe (20 Jeremy Sua 66), 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Maurie Fa'asavalu (19 Ben Masoe 57), 6 Alafoti Fa'osiliva, 5 Joe Tekori (18 Daniel Chricton 62), 4 Fa'atiga Lemalu, 3 Logovi'i Mulipola (17 Census Johnston 57), 2 Ti'i Paulo (16 Ole Avei 57), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Tries: Fotuali'I, Lemalu (2), Salavea, Pisi; Conversions: Anufe (2); Penalty Goals: Anufe (2); Drop Goals: Fotuali'i.
Yellow Cards: Mulipola (17 sin-bin), Taulafo (36 sin-bin).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 7min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-3-0, 11min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-6-0, 19min-try Japan, Hendrik Tui; conv. Ayumu Goromaru(missed)-11-0, 26min-try Japan, Takashi Kikutani; conv. Ayumu Goromaru(missed)-16-0, 31min-try Samoa, Kahn Fotuali'i; conv. Ki Anufe-16-7, 38min-try Samoa, Fa'atiga Lemalu; conv. Ki Anufe-16-14, 43min-pen Samoa, Ki Anufe -16-17, 61min-try Samoa, Fa'atiga Lemalu; conv. Lolo Lui-16-24, 65min-pen Samoa, Ki Anufe-16-27, 68min-try Japan, Takashi Kikutani; conv. Ryan Nicholas (missed)-21-27, 77min-try Japan, Toshiaki Hirose; conv. Ryan Nicholas (missed)-26-27.
 


Both teams had two opportunities for penalty kicks before the 13th minute of the first half, and while Samoa missed twice, Japan's full-back Goromaru scored both including one from a difficult position behind the 10-meter line, to lead 6-0. Also in the 18th minute, Samoa's left prop Logovi'i Mulipola was sent to the sin-bin because of dangerous play (tackling). The match turned in Japan's favor in the early stages. In the 19th minute, Japan dodged the opponent in a scrum with a loop by the stand-off, and passed the ball to left wing Onozawa. Unfortunately, he was caught from a ruck following it; number 8 Hendrik Tui drew a tackle and scored the opening try. The conversion failed (11-0). In the 26th minute, Japan moved the ball from a ruck to the left line, and flanker Kikutani, who followed outside the wing, scored a try. The goal failed (16-0). Even while Japan's forwards were physically smaller, during this time period they held the ball continuously, dodging contact points skillfully. Then, Samoa got a penalty kick near the 10-meter line in the opponent's territory and kicked the ball to touch instead of attempting to score the goal. The stand-off launched from a lineout inside the 22-meter line, and Japan's defense was not able to stop it well enough. Scrum-half Kahn Fotualii came out of the next ruck and scored Samoa's first try in the 31st minute. Stand-off Ki Anufe also scored a goal (16-7). In the 38th minute, Samoa formed a maul from a lineout inside the 22-meter line, which they set up by kicking to touch following Japan's penalty. Then Samoa pushed it by taking time, and lock Faatiga Lemalu scored a try to the left center. The goal was also scored to narrow the margin to 16-14.
Just after the second half started, Japan made a high tackle, then incurred a penalty by collapsing a maul from a lineout awarded to Samoa by touch-kicking. In the 3rd minute, stand-off Ki Anufe scored a penalty goal from a relatively difficult position on the 22-meter line to come from behind 16-17. After that, Japan took the offensive side several times, however, they lost chances due to their mistakes. In the 21st minute, Samoa, who chose a strategy that involved not moving from a lineout, attempted to go forward from a maul and moved the ball in a ruck to the left line. Japan managed to stop the full-back, but Samoa made effective short passes and lock Faatiga Lemalu scored a try to the left center. The goal was scored (16-24). In the 25th minute, stand-off Ki Anufe scored a penalty goal from a difficult position near the 10-meter line. (16-27). In the 28th minute, Samoa made a mistake in a lineout, then Japan 17 prop Yamashita, who was subbed in, carried the ball to the front of the goal and scored consecutively. At the end, flanker Kikutani scored the second try. It was a difficult position near the line, and Nicholas Ryan's goal failed (21-27). In the 34th minute, Samoa's penalty goal hit the goal post, Japan picked the ball, and passed it until around the 22-meter line to attack. After that, Japan moved the ball to the right line from Japan's lineout. Japan used a loop strategy and in the 37th minute, wing Hirose scored a try in the right corner. Nicholas Ryan kicked the goal, aiming to come from behind to win, but this failed. The final score was 26-27. The Japan team maintained their hope for a win until the end, but unfortunately the IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012 ended with all matches lost.