Test Match No. 304: Italy comes to Japan

日本語 Photo Journal
21 June 2014; G: Chichibunomiya; R: Jaco Peyper (SA)
○Japan 26-23 Italy●
 
Data:
21/6/2014, Italy 3rd Japan tour
Japan 26 Italy 23
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo
Half-time 13 - 13
Refree: Jaco Peyper (SA)
Crowd: 13,816
 
JAPAN: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Akihito Yamada (17, 27), 13 Male Sau, 12 Yu Tamura, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Holani (21 Hendrik Tui 74), 7 Michael Leitch (capt), 6 Justin Ives, 5 Luke Thompson (19 Shinya Makabe 74), 4 Shoji Ito (20 Hitoshi Ono 74), 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (18 Hiroshi Yamashita 74) , 2 Shota Horie, 1 Masataka Mikami (16 Hisateru Hirashima 63).
Reserves: 17 Takeshi Kizu, 22 Atsushi Hiwasa, 23 Toshiaki Hirose.
Coach: Eddie Jones.
Tries: Male Sau, Yamada; Conversions: Goromaru (2); Penalty Goals: Goromaru (4).
Yellow Cards: Yamada (17, sin-bin).
 
Italy: 15 Luke Mclean, 14 Leonardo Sarto (23 Tommaso Iannone 74), 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti (42, 52), 10 Luciano Orquera (22 Tommaso Allan 74), 9 Tito Tebaldi (21 Guglielmo Palazzani 64), 8 Robert Barbieri, 7 Mauro Bergamasco (20 Manoa Vosawai 60), 6 Joshua Furno, 5 Marco Bortolami (19 Marco Fuser 68), 4 Quintin Geldenhuys (capt), 3 Lorenzo Cittadini (18 Dario Chistolini 59), 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (16 Andrea Manici 67), 1 Alberto De Marchi (17 Andrea De Marchi 59).
Reserves:
Coach: Jacques Brunel.
Tries: Penalty try, Robert Barbieri; Conversions: Luciano Orquera, Tommaso Allan; Penalty Goals: Luciano Orquera (3).
Yellow Cards: Giovanbattista Venditti (42, sin-bin).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 4min-try Japan, Akihito Yamada; conv. Ayumu Goromaru-7-0, 7min-pen Italy, Luciano Orquera-7-3, 13min-Pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-10-3, 17min-try Italy, Penalty try; conv. Luciano Orquera-10-10, 22min-Pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-13-10, 35min-pen Italy, Luciano Orquera-13-13, 42min-Pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-16-13, 48min-Pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-19-13, 52min-pen Italy, Luciano Orquera-19-16, 4min-try Japan, Male Sau; conv. Ayumu Goromaru-26-16, 74min-try Italy, Robert Barbieri; conv. Tommaso Allan -26-23.
 


Japan, who had won nine test matches in a row, won steadily against Italy who had lost eight test matches in a row. Even though the numbers on the score board were close to each other until around the end, Japan was not likely to lose. A scrum just before the first half ended. They both got excited and the referee stepped in between them. From the flow, it was a scene Italy was about to try very hard with. They really pushed each other. Individually, right prop Kensuke Hatakeyama had both fighting spirit and thoughtfulness. Japan had an advantage, ruling the timing and directions. They could hear the whistle for half time smoothly. “I felt the opponent's heaviness in the first scrum. However, I also felt the heaviness of our own back five. For 80 minutes, I thought we could form good scrums.” (Hatakeyama)
Another sign that showed the stability of Japan occurred after the 28th minute of the second half: the situation and result after Italy's big gain, while being behind by 10 points. Because of their status and pride as a member of the Six Nations, Italy attacked aggressively, approaching near the try-line, and moved to the side from there.
Then, 10 Luciano Orquera chose a kick pass too far on the left. As a result, they failed to score a try. The “hurry to attack” was due to a lack of stability of the superior. Being exposed to the patience and stubborn honesty of Japan's defense, he decided to abandon a continuous attack in an important situation. Even though it was not really a satisfactory play, Japan gained a satisfactory result with their confidence and trust in themselves.