Test Match No. 341: Lipovitan D Tour 2017, game 1

日本語 Photo Journal
19 November 2017; G: Frnace (Ernest Wallon S); R: Andrew Brace (IRE)
○Japan 39-6 Tonga●
 
Data:
19/11/2017, European tour 2017 1st Match
Japan 39 Tonga 6
Ernest Wallon Stadium, France
Half-time: 27-6
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRE)
Crowd: 4,980
 
JAPAN: 15 Kotaro Matsushima (23 Yoshikazu Fujita 71), 14 Lemeki Lomano Lava 13 Timothy Lafaele (22 Sione Teaupa 66), 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (21 Yutaka Nagare 48), 8 Amanaki Lelei Mafi (19 Shunsuke Nunomaki 55), 7 Michael Leitch (capt), 6 Kazuki Himeno, 5 Shinya Makabe (20 Fetuani Lautaimi 61), 4 Wimpie Van Der Walt, 3 Jiwon Koo (18 Asaeli Ai Valu 55), 2 Shota Horie (16 Atsushi Sakate 60), 1 Keita Inagaki (17 Shintaro Ishihara 70).
Reserves:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries: Lomano Lava (2), Mafi, Leitch, Fukuoka; Conversions: Tamura (4); Penalty Goals: Tamura (2).
 
TONGA: 15 AFA PAKALANI, 14 David Halaifonua (23 Penikolo Latu 62 (74, 80)), 13 NAFI TUITAVAKE, 12 Siale Vailea Piutau, 11 Cooper Vuna, 10 Kalione Hala (22 George Taina 62), 9 Sonatane Takulua (21 Shinnosuke Tafokitau Oka 75), 8 Maama Vaipulu, 7 Fotu Lokotui (19 OneHunga Kaufisi 62), 6 DANIEL FALEAFA, 5 Sitiveni Mafi (20 Sione Vailanu 40), 4 HALALEVA FIFITA, 3 Halani Aulika (28, 38) (18 Paea Faanunu 50), 2 Sione Lea (16 Sione Lolohea 67), 1 LATU TALAKAI (17 Jethro Felemi 67).
Reserves:
Coach: Toutai Kefu.
Penalty Goals: Sonatane Takulua (2).
Yellow Cards: Halani Aulika (28, sin-bin), Penikolo Latu (74, sin-bin).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 24min-try Japan, Lemeki Lomano Lava; conv. Yu Tamura-7-0, 8min-Pen Tonga, Sonatane Takulua-7-3, 12min-Pen Japan, Yu Tamura-10-3, 21min-Pen Tonga, Sonatane Takulua-10-6, 29min-try Japan, Amanaki Lelei Mafi; conv. Yu Tamura-17-6, 32min-try Japan, Michael Leitch; conv. Yu Tamura-24-6, 38min-Pen Japan, Yu Tamura-27-6, 59min-try Japan, Lemeki Lomano Lava; conv. Yu Tamura-34-6, 74min-try Japan, Kenki Fukuoka; conv. Yu Tamura (missed)-39-6.
 


In the match against Tonga on 18 November, Japan was superior to physically strong Tonga in various aspects and won easily 39-6, allowing them no tries, without allowing any gap for them to step in until the end.
This was a test match held at Ernest Wallon stadium against Tonga. In the 3rd minute of the match, Japan passed the ball out from a lineout maul, and wing Lemeki Lomano Lava scored the opening try. After that, Japan conceded a penalty in a scene in which Japan kept stopping Tonga who were stronger in contact, however, they suppressed the movement to just two penalty goals, and regained the territory with kicks by stand-off Yu Tamura and full-back Kotaro Matsushima to draw the flow to them again. In the 29th minute, number 8 Amanaki Lelei Mafi moved the ball widely from a lineout maul, and in the 32nd minute, Japan moved the ball widely, and captain and flanker Michael Leitch scored a try. The match was 24-6. In the second half, once Tonga broke the line, but Japan stopped them in coordination.
Tonga was not able to call their main players who were playing Premier in England or Top 14 in France, which happened also in the window-month. The Japan team had seven first-cap young players, including Shinnosuke Tafokitau Oka who played in Daito Bunka University and Sione Vailanu in Asahi University, emphasizing training up of players. It was a developing team which made mistakes such as pass misses and dropped balls. “I know this since I played twice in the World Cup. They were different from Tonga in the World Cup,” said captain Leitch. Japan struggled against their physical strength, however, it was not a straight fight, and Japan handled identifying the opponent's weaknesses well. “We are not going to fight against Tonga physically. They are not a team Japan can win against physically in the World Cup.” (captain Leitch) Japan was calm.
In the first half, Japan often used kicks to the back, head coach Jamie Joseph presented them with a challenge, “it was to slow down the opponent's line speed, however, there were scenes where we made wrong decisions.” “We learned tactics of games. When we can grasp, we can make good attacks, and when we cannot grasp, we are pressurised. We need to take notice of this and take action in test matches.” (The captain Leitch)