Test Match No. 340: Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2017, game 4

日本語 Photo Journal
4 November 2017; G: Fukuoka (Nissan S); R: Nick Briant (NZ)
●Japan 30-63 Australia○
 
Data:
4/11/2017, Australlia 1st Japan tour 1st Match
Japan 30 Australlia 63
Nissan Stadium, Yokohama
Half-time: 3-35
Referee: Nick Briant (NZ)
Crowd: 43,621
 
JAPAN: 15 Kotaro Matsushima, 14 Lemeki Lomano Lava (22 Yu Tamura 59), 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa (23 Sione Teaupa 52), 11 Ryuji Noguchi, 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (21 Yutaka Nagare 59), 8 Amanaki Lelei Mafi, 7 Shunsuke Nunomaki (20 Fetuani Lautaimi 63), 6 Michael Leitch (capt), 5 Uwe Helu (19 Wimpie Van Der Walt 19), 4 Kazuki Himeno, 3 Takuma Asahara (18 Asaeli Ai Valu 52), 2 Shota Horie (16 Atsushi Sakate 63), 1 Keita Inagaki (17 Koki Yamamoto 73).
Reserves:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries: Wimpie Van Der Walt, Mafi, Himeno; Conversions: Matsuda, Tamura (2); Penalty Goals: Matsuda (3).
 
AUSTRALIA: 15 Kurtley Beale (23 Curtis Rona 58), 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kurindrani, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Reece Hodge, 9 Nick Phipps (22 Joe Powel 66), 8 Sean McMahon (21 Lopeti Timani 63), 7 Michael Hooper (20 Ben McCalman 63), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Adam Coleman (19 Matt Pfillip 63), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sekope Kepu (18 Allan Alaalatoa 58), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (16 Stephen Moore 52), 1 Scott Sio (17 Tom Robertson 58).
Reserves:
Coach: Michael Cheika.
Tries: Samu Kerevi (2), Henry Speight, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tevita Kurindrani (3), Nick Phipps, Rob Simmons; Conversions: Reece Hodge (9); Penalty Goals:
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 5min-try Australia, Samu Kerevi; conv. Reece Hodge-0-7, 10min-try Australia, Henry Speight; conv. Reece Hodge-0-14, 17min-Pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-3-14, 23min-try Australia, Tatafu Polota-Nau; conv. Reece Hodge-3-21, 32min-try Australia, Tevita Kurindrani; conv. Reece Hodge-3-28, 32min-try Australia, Tevita Kurindrani; conv. Reece Hodge-3-35, 44min-try Japan, Wimpie Van Der Walt; conv. Rikiya Matsuda-10-35, 49min-Pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-13-35, 50min-try Australia, Samu Kerevi; conv. Reece Hodge-13-42, 55min-Pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-16-42, 56min-try Australia, Tevita Kurindrani; conv. Reece Hodge-16-49, 62min-try Australia, Nick Phipps; conv. Reece Hodge-16-56, 65min-try Australia, Rob Simmons; conv. Reece Hodge-16-63, 69min-try Japan, Amanaki Lelei Mafi; conv. Yu Tamura-23-63, 82min-try Japan, Kazuki Himeno; conv. Yu Tamura-30-63.
 


Japan welcomed John Plumtree, who coached the Hurricanes from the Super Rugby and completed the line defense to move forward agressively, as a coach in charge of the defense. Japan had basically started introducing the same system. With this system, they pressurized, proactively and at full blast, not only players who stood in front, but also ones who stayed behind and received and returned passes by the opponent's attack. Head coach Joseph didn't like the expression “rush” saying “it gives an impression of recklessness” (in an interview before the world selection match), generally it is called “rush defense”. It is the so-called current version of “shallow defense” with which Japan proved their performance around 1970. It was a good strategy in that it didn't give enough time and space freedom to allow high speed by ‘big body' (a runner held by the world top 4 class team). This produced the same effect many times against the Wallabies too. Japan didn't repeat their previous experiences of losing points without countermeasures. Head coach Cheika evaluated the player who joined suddenly, number 10 Reece Hodge, in his own team: “Japan tested him again and again by the line speed.” He considered it a good start. But Japan conceded 9 tries. Until the 24th minute of the match, they lost 21 points. All of them started from a lineout following a penalty. Consecutive attacks started from a contact by number 12 Samu Kerevi and ended with Kerevi's finish. A pre-arranged play. Australia's tradition of “starting a fight after a lineout in the opponent's territory and finishing out” was performed well. It determined the result.
Flanker Shunsuke Nunomaki, who fought for the ball or made tackles aggressively, reflected “We let the opponent get (the ball) out at a fast tempo, and lost in the number of players. The opponent's approaching was fast so we were not able to slow them down.” For the defense going forward, “The kind of system is not important. If we can implement the system, the situation won't become difficult.” For Samu Kerevi's strong contacts, decision space was encouraged, instead of considering just hitting. Connect, fall down, stand up, and be patient. Even when they got hit by Japan, the ball would never die. This is an assumption in matches against the world top teams. Therefore, we need to believe the current defending method without hesitation, and develop appropriate fitness and skills. Then, if offload is allowed even while sticking with it, another measure is needed. Tackles would be problematic, such as converging from inside without overlapping outside, returning after allowing breakthrough, etc.
Just before the match ended, at the front right of the goal, Japan formed a scrum firmly, and first-cap and number 4 Kazuki Himeno went to the in-goal taking advantage of the strength of his upper body. “That try was too much.” (head coach Cheika). Consecutive plays of a quick P attack, skillful passes and direct runs by calm stand-off Rikiya Matsuda demonstrated the team's potential, even while it achieved “only a few comforting points” on the score board. (from the Rugby Magazine, January 2018)