Test Match No. 332: Japan tour Europe, game 3

日本語 Photo Journal
26 November 2016; G: France (Rabine S); R: Craig Joubert (SA)
●Japan 25-38 Fiji○
 
Data:
26/11/2016 European tour 2016 3rd Match
Japan 25 Fiji 38
Vannes, France
Half-time 8 - 12
Refree: Craig Joubert (SA)
Crowd: 7,500
 
JAPAN: 15 Kotaro Matsushima, 14 Akihito Yamada (23 Karne Hesketh 53), 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa (22 Lotoahea Amanaki 53), 11 Kenki Fukuoka (23 Karne Hesketh 53) , 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (21 Keisuke Uchida 76) , 8 Amanaki Lelei Mafi (20 40), 7 Shunsuke Nunomaki (20 Shuhei Matsuhashi 40), 6 Malgene Ilaua, 5 Samuela Anise, 4 Kyosuke Kajikawa (19 Kotaro Yatabed 48), 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (18 Heiichiro Ito 40), 2 Shota Horie (capt) (16 Takeshi Hino 66), 1 Satoshi Nakatani (17 Kanta Higashionna 48).
Reserves:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries: Matsushima (2), Malgene Ilaua; Conversions: Tamura (2); Penalty Goals: Tamura (2).
 
FIJI: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Metuisela Talebula, 13 Albert Vulivuli, 12 Levani Botia (23 Waisea Nayacalevu 74), 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Nikola Matawalu (22 Serupepeli Vularika 79), 8 Akapusi Qera, 7 Peceli Yato (17, 27, 32), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu (20 Naulia Dawai 61), 5 Leone Nakarawa (18 Lee Roy Atalifo 66), 4 Nemia Soqeta (19 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa 56), 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Sunia Koto (16 Tuapati Talemaitoga 57), 1 Peni Ravai (17 Joeli Veitayaki 76).
Reserves: 21 Eremasi Radrodro.
Coach: John McKee.
Tries: Albert Vulivuli, Metuisela Talebula, Levani Botia (2), Nemani Nadolo; Conversions: Nemani Nadolo (5); Penalty Goals: Nemani Nadolo.
Yellow Cards: Peceli Yato (17, sin-bin).
Red Cards: Peceli Yato (32).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 15min-try Fiji, Albert Vulivuli; conv. Nemani Nadolo-0-7, 20min-Pen Japan, Yu Tamura-3-7, 22min-try Fiji, Metuisela Talebula; conv. Nemani Nadolo-3-14, 33min-Pen Japan, Yu Tamura-6-14, 35min-try Fiji, Levani Botia; conv. Nemani Nadolo-6-21, 43min-try Fiji, Levani Botia; conv. Nemani Nadolo-6-28, 51min-try Fiji, Nemani Nadolo; conv. Nemani Nadolo-6-35, 58min-try Japan, Kotaro Matsushima; conv. Yu Tamura-13-35, 64min-try Japan, Malgene Ilaua; conv. Yu Tamura (missed)-18-35, 78min-try Japan, Kotaro Matsushima; conv. Yu Tamura-25-35, 80min-Pen Fiji, Nemani Nadolo-25-38.
 


To apply the new style which Japan had been developing against Fiji consistently throughout the match was their plan. However, this ambitious experiment did not work. “We conceded the first several tries due to our mistakes.”(head coach Joseph)
For more than half of the registered members it was their first match against Fiji. They must have been under unimaginable pressure. In the 32th minute of the first half, a player left the match from some dangerous play, then Japan made kick misses, tackle misses, positioning misses, etc. against Fiji. Due to fatal misses, which were not seen in the match against Wales, Japan conceded three tries in the first half alone. “Let's concentrate and come from behind again.” (joint captain and hooker Shota Horie) Just after they confirmed the consensus during the half-time break, Japan conceded four tries to Fiji due to pass mistakes while attacking into the opponent's territory, and displaying a lack of concentration which cost them points, and which determined the result of the match. Thanks to the substituted players who joined the match earlier than usual and poured energy into Japan, which was lacking on the day, the last 20 minutes turned out to be Japan's time. Full-back Kotaro Matsushima succeeded in crossing the try line twice, flanker Malgene Ilaua once. In any case, Japan broke the opponent's defense systematically, then individual skills worked to their advantage. It proved again that this team was very talented in making tries and dangerous for the opponent team, however, this was not reflected in the result on the day. The final score was 25-38. (from the Rugby Magazine, February 2017)