Test Match No. 320: 8th World Cup, game 3

日本語 Photo Journal
3 October 2015; G: Milton Keynes; R: Craig Joubert (SA)
○Japan 26-5 Samoa●
 
Data:
3/10/2015, 8th RWC2015 England 3rd match
Japan 26 Samoa 5
Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
Half-time 20 - 0
Refree: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Crowd: 29,019
 
JAPAN: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Akihito Yamada (23 Karne Hesketh 56), 13 Male Sa'u (16 Takeshi Kizu 72), 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Kotaro Matsushima, 10 Kosei Ono, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (22 Atsushi Hiwasa 72) , 8 Ryu Holani (20 Amanaki Lelei Mafi 60), 7 Michael Broadhurst (21 Hendrik Tui 65), 6 Michael Leitch (capt), 5 Hitoshi Ono (19 Justin Ives 40), 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (18 Hiroshi Yamashita 65), 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki.
Reserves: 17 Masataka Mikami.
Coach: Eddie Jones.
Tries: Penalty try, Yamada; Conversions: Goromaru(2); Penalty Goals: Goromaru(4).
 
SAMOA: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 Paul Perez, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Alesana Tuilangi (22,29) (23 Rey Lee-Lo 48), 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i (21 Vavao Afemai 74), 8 Faifili Levave (16,26), 7 TJ Ioane (19 Jack Lam 48), 6 Ofisa Treviranus (capt), 5 Kane Thompson, 4 Filo Paulo (78,80), 3 Census Johnston (18 Anthony Perenise 51), 2 Ole Avei (16 Motu Matu'u 56) 1 Sakaria Taulafo (19,29).
Reserves: 22 Michael Stanley.
Coach: Stephen Betham.
Tries: Perez.
Yellow Cards: Faifili Levave (16, sin-bin), Sakaria Taulafo (19, sin-bin), Filo Paulo (78, sin-bin).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 8min-pen Japan, Goromaru-3-0,24min-try Japan, Penalty try; conv. Ayumu Goromaru-10-0, 34min-pen Japan, Goromaru-13-0, 40min-try Japan, Akihito Yamada; conv. Ayumu Goromaru-20-0, 48min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-23-0, 59min-pen Japan, Ayumu Goromaru-26-0, 64min-try Samoa, Paul Perez-26-5.
 


After having a good rest and preparing well enough, Japan won with a score of 26-5 to get the second win in a world cup for the first time in their 8th participation in the rugby world cup. Japan showed a stable performance which couldn't have been expected before, such as beating Samoa with powerful players and low tackles, inducing penalties by pushing in scrums, etc. Actually, according to the values stated by local book makers, Samoa had a big advantage, therefore Japan surprised the world again following the match against South Africa.
What was impressive in this match was the try by wing Akihito Yamada just before the first half ended. He avoided a tackle by Samoa's big player, wing Tuilagi, by turning his body and jumping in the right corner to score a tricky try. It was a try which was possible since it was by Yamada and he had studied strategies against the opponent for years. “We were able to show what we have prepared for the past week,” said Goromaru. Head coach Jones praised the players, saying “A team who have been able to win only one match in the Rugby World Cup won two matches in this cup to change Japanese rugby history. Today, especially, the forwards overwhelmed set pieces. It was amazing.”