Test Match No. 314: Pacific Nations Cup, game 4

日本語 Photo Journal
3 August 2015; G: Burnaby, Canada; R: Angus Gardner (AUS)
●Japan 20-31 Tonga○
 
Data:
3/8/2015, 10th Pacific Nations Cup 4th Match
Japan 20 Tonga 31
Swangard Stadium
Half-time 11 - 16
Refree: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Crowd:
 
JAPAN: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Karne Hesketh, 13 Kotaro Matsushima, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Yoshikazu Fujita (23 Tim Bennetts 74), 10 Kosei Ono (22 Craig Wing 64), 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (21 Atsushi Hiwasa 74), 8 Ryu Holani, 7 Michael Broadhurst (20 Hendrik Tui 24), 6 Michael Leitch (capt) (28,38), 5 Hitoshi Ono (19 Hayden Hopgood 64,70,80), 4 Shoji Ito, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita (18 Kensuke Hatakeyama 40), 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki (16 Hisateru Hirashima 33).
Reserves: 17 Hiroki Yuhara.
Coach: Eddie Jones.
Tries: Tui; Penalty Goals: Goromaru (5).
Yellow Cards: Leitch (28, sin-bin), Hopgood (70, sin-bin).
 
TONGA: 15 Vunga Lilo, 14 Otulea Katoa, 13 Sione Piukala, 12 Vliami Tahitu'a, 11 Fetu'u Vainkolo, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Hale T-Pole, 7 Nili Latu (capt) (25,35), 6 Jack Ram, 5 Uili Kolo'ofai, 4 Tukulua Lokotui, 3 Halani Aulika (18 Sila Puafisi 55), 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Tevita Mailau.
Reserves: 16 Kalafi Pongi, 17 Soane Tonga'uiha, 19 Sosefo Sakalia, 20 Viliami Fihaki, 21 Wayne Ngaluafe, 22 Martin Naufahu, 23 Latiume Fosita.
Coach: Mana Otai.
Tries: Aulika, Vainikolo, Takulua; Conversions: Morath (2); Penalty Goals: Morath (4).
Yellow Cards: Latu (25, sin-bin).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 7min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-3-0, 10min-pen Tonga, Kurt Morath-3-3, 16min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-6-3, 30min-try Tonga, Halani Aulika; conv. Kurt Morath -6-10, 32min-try Japan, conv. Ayumu Goromaru(missed)-11-10, 10min-pen Tonga, Kurt Morath-11-13, 40min-pen Tonga, Kurt Morath-11-16, 42min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-14-16, 48min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-17-16, 54min-try Tonga, Fetu'u Vainkolo; conv. Kurt Morath(missed)-17-21, 60min-pen Tonga, Kurt Morath-17-24, 64min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-20-24, 54min-try Tonga, Sonatane Takulua; conv. Kurt Morath-20-31.
 


Tonga had an advantage from the beginning. After coping with consecutive pinches by the opponent's knock-on or a turn-over in a close formation, in the 7th minute of the first half, Japan full-back Ayumu Goromaru scored the opening penalty goal. Just after that, in the 9th minute, Tonga also scored a penalty goal to make the score 3-3. In the 16th minute, from a penalty kick following a scrum, full-back Goromaru scored a penalty goal. Also after this, Japan gave more time to attacking from stable set plays, and in the 25th minute of the first half, Tonga's captain and flanker Nili Latu was sent to the sin-bin due to a penalty from a close formation. This was a chance for Japan to get the lead, but the team who scored points next was Tonga. In the 28th minute of the first half, Japan also got a yellow card. After the players became even in number, in the 30th minute, Tonga pushed in a lineout maul, the forwards attacked a ruck side with patience, and at the end, prop Halani Aulika scored a try to come from behind. In the 32nd minute, also from Japan, wing Karne Hesketh rushed from his own territory to inside the 22-meter line of Tonga. Furthermore, after stand-off Kosei Ono went out forward, flanker Tui who subbed in, scored a try to make Japan's lead 11-10. But in the 34th and 40th minutes, Tonga scored an additional two penalty goals to make the score 11-16, then the half-time break came.
Also after the second half started, Japan still maintained an advantage in scrums, and in the 2nd and 8th minutes, full-back Goromaru scored two penalty goals to come from behind again (17-16). But also in the second half, Japan's characteristic attacking at a good tempo did not appear. On the other hand, Tonga's forwards increased phases to get ahead, attacked the outer space, and in the 14th minute, left wing Fetuu Vainikolo ran through to come from behind again.
The team that ruled the game around the end was Tonga. While keeping the ball consistently, in the 20th minute, stand-off Morath scored a penalty goal. In the 39th minute, because of the forwards, the ball was passed to centre Sione Piukala who moved in vertically, then to scrum-half Sonatane Takulua to score a try to seal the win.