Test Match No. 289: Wales comes to Japan, game 1

日本語 Photo Journal
8 June 2013; G: Hanazono; R: Lawrence Van Der Merwe (SA)
●Japan 18-22 Wales○
 
Data:
8/6/2013, Wales 3rd Japan tour 1st match
Japan 18 Wales 22
Hanazono Stadium
Half-time 11 - 6
Refree: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Crowd: 20,152
 
JAPAN: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Yoshikazu Fujita, 13 Male Sau, 12 Craig Wing (22 Yu Tamura 66), 11 Kenki Fukuoka (23 Hirotoki Onozawa 70), 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (21 Atsushi Hiwasa 64), 8 Takashi Kikutani (capt), 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Hendrik Tui (20 Ryuta Yasui 70), 5 Shoji Ito (19 Shinya Makabe 45), 4 Hitoshi Ono (19 Yoshizumi Kitagawa), 3 Hiroshi Yamashita (18 Kensuke Hatakeyama 64), 2 Shota Horie (16 Takeshi Kizu 70), 1 Masataka Mikami (17 Yusuke Nagae 60).
Reserves:
Coach: Eddie Jones.
Tries: Broadhurst, Fujita; Conversions: Goromaru; Penalty Goals: Goromaru (2).
 
WALES: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Owen Williams (22 Rhys Patchell 64), 12 Jonathan Spratt, 11 Dafydd Howells Tom Prydie, 10 Dan Biggar (22 Rhys Patchell 64), 9 Lloid Williams (21 Tavis Knoyle 60), 8 Rob McCuske (19, 29) (20 Dan Baker 60), 7 James King, 6 Andrew Coombs (19 Andries Pretorius 51), 5 Lou Reed, 4 Bradley Davies (capt), 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Emyr Phillips, 1 Ryan Bevington (17 Rhys Gill 51).
Reserves: 16 Scott Baldwin, 18 Rhodri Jones, 23 Tom Prydie
Coach: Warren Gatland.
Tries: Harry Robinson; Conversions: Dan Biggar; Penalty Goals: Dan Biggar (4), Rhys Patchell.
Yellow Cards: Rob McCuske (19, sin-bin).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 15min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-3-0, 20min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-6-0, 22min-pen Wales, Dan Biggar-6-3, 28min-pen Wales, Dan Biggar-6-6, 37min-try Japan, Michael Broadhurst; conv. Ayumu Goromaru (missed)-11-6, 46min-pen Wales, Dan Biggar-11-9, 59min-pen Wales, Dan Biggar-11-12, 64min-try Wales, Harry Robinson; conv. Dan Biggar-11-19, 69min-try Japan, Yoshikazu Fujita; conv. Ayumu Goromaru-18-19, 78min-pen Wales, Rhys Patchell-18-22.
 


The team who rode on the wave first was Japan. In the 15th and 20th minutes of the first half, full-back Ayumu Goromaru scored penalty goals. In the 22nd and 28th minutes, Wales stand-off Dan Biggar scored penalty goals to make the score tie, yet Japan kept the will to go forward and their momentum didn't decline. In the 37th minute of the first half, when the score was a tie, Japan succeeded a pre-arranged play in a lineout deep inside Wales' territory. Flanker Michael Broadhurst cut in to a narrow space on the edge of the line, Japan took a lead again 11-6, and the first half ended.
In the second half, while Wales kept playing in an even more orthodox way, full-back Goromaru missed opportunities with the penalty goals Japan got in the 2nd and 11th minutes. Wales stand-off Biggar scored penalty goals in the 6th and 19th minutes to come from behind (11-12), then in the 23rd minute, they attacked the ball Japan left (a short punt by wing Kenki Fukuoka) and gave a small opportunity for a try to wing Harry Robinson. In the 29th minute, Japan continued their attack from a scrum and wing Yoshikazu Fujita scored a try, however, they conceded a penalty goal also in the 38th minute and eventually lost the game. “Our decision making ability was not enough”, Fukuoka said, biting his lips.
It was 80 minutes where they were close to winning against Wales for the first time in their history. Takashi Kikutani said “It's frustrating. We were not able to make use of opportunities that could lead to points,” yet he added “It's no use if we spend a week in this mood. I think we can switch our feelings and show an improved performance next week. We are proud of having been able to play at Hanazono, in front of such a big audience.”