日本語 Photo Journal
3 August 2019: G: Hanazono Rugby Stadium; R: Jerome Garces (FRA)
○Japan 41-7 Tonga●
Data:
3/8/2019, Lipovitan D Challenge CUP Pacific Nations Cup 2019 Japan Round 2nd Game
Japan 41 Tonga 7
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Japan
Half-time 21-0
Refree: Jerome Garces (France)
Crowd: 20,940
JAPAN: 15 William Tupou, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura (22 Rikiya Matsuda 58), 11 Lomano Lava Lemeki (23 Kenki Fukuoka 70), 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Yutaka Nagare (21 Kaito Shigeno 58), 8 Amanaki Lelei Mafi, 7 Yoshitaka Tokunaga (20 Kazuki Himeno 64), 6 Michael Leitch (capt), 5 Wimpie Van Der Walt (19 Uwe Helu 56), 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Asaeli Ai Valu (18 Yusuke Kizu 70), 2 Shota Horie (16 Atsushi Sakate 64), 1 Keita Inagaki (17 Shogo Miura 73).
Reserves:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries: Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Asaeli Ai Valu, Timothy Lafaele, Kotaro Matsuchima, Kenki Fukuoka; Conversions: Yu Tamura (5); Penalty Goals: Yu Tamura (2).
Yellow Cards: Matsushima (4, sin-bin)
TONGA: 15 David Halaifonua, 14 Nafi Tuitavake (), 13 Siale PIUTAU (Cap), 12 Cooper Vuna (23 James FAIVA 69), 11 Atieli PAKALANI, 10 Latiume Fosita, 9 Sonatane Takulua (22 Leon FUKOFUKA 64), 8 Maama Vaipulu (19 Sione Vailanu 60), 7 Fotu Lokotui, 6 DANIEL FALEAFA (20 Onehunga Kaufusi 47), 5 Leva FIFITA, 4 Sitiveni Mafi (21 Zane KAPELI 69), 3 MAAFU FIA (18 Ben Tameifuna 49) , 2 Sosefo Sakalia (16 Paula NGAUAMO 56), 1 Paea Faanunu (17 Toma TAUFA 40, 80)
Reserves:
Coach:
Tries: Leva FIFITA; Conversions: Sonatane Takulua.
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 10min-try Japan, Amanaki Lelei Mafi; conv. Yu Tamura-7-0, 20min-try Japan, Asaeli Ai Valu; conv. Yu Tamura-14-0, 30min-try Japan, Timothy Lafaele; conv. Yu Tamura-21-0, 37min-Pen Tonga Sonatane Takulua (missed) 21-0, 48min-Pen Japan, Yu Tamura-24-0, 57min-try Tonga Leva FIFITA; conv. Sonatane Takulua-24-7, 69min-Pen Japan, Yu Tamura-27-7, 72min-try Japan, Kotaro Matsushima; conv. Yu Tamura-34-7, 79min-try Japan, Kenki Fukuoka; conv. Yu Tamura-41-7.
Japan kicked off the game. In the beginning, Japan struggled with the intensive pressure from Tonga that brought about a cycle of mistakes. In the 4th minute, WTB Matsushima's knocking down the ball was judged as an intentional knock-on which resulted in a sin-bin being called. Japan was forced to continue to play with 14 players. This PK sent the ball into touch and gave Tonga a lineout just right in front of the goal line. With their back against the goal line, Japan was in a serious jam. However, they were tough enough to stop the Tonga's powerful maul, showing a better defense performance, correcting the issues seen in the previous match against Fiji.
But Tonga pushed forward, kicking the ball into the empty in-goal area. When all the Japanese supporters were about to sigh, Fiji's WTB who tried to control the ball got caught in the grass and flipped over. Japan managed to get out of this jam and rushed into Fiji's territory with their continuous attacks. This led Mafi to score Japan's first try in the 10th minute after pushing forward in a maul.
In the 20th minute, Asaeli Ai Valu who is originally from Tonga, made an aggressive try while being tackled. Tamura also scored successfully, so that the score was 14-0 as of this moment. The match up until this phase raised a point to be considered that Japan had allowed turnovers several times because of their failure to control the ball during the attack. Japanese players delayed in supporting those tackled by Fijian defenders, failing to block them who try to snatch the ball. This exposed two factors: The ball carrier easily fell, and the second player was late to cover. Japan needs to correct these details in their play focusing on how to carry the ball. Thanks to Tonga's similar mistakes, Japan was able to score continuously as a result. In the 32nd minute of the second half, Tamura made a grubber kick with his back against the defense, when Matsushima ran and caught the bounced ball resulting in making a successful try. Just before full-time, WTB Fukuoka who came off the bench broke away from two tacklers with hand offs and quick steps, making a great try that got the spectators of more than 20,000 greatly excited.
While repeatedly losing the ball control due to fowls and mistakes, Japan got the ball from Fijian lineouts from time to time and proved that they had enough strength to tackle those powerful Tonga players. The match as a whole showed that Japan is still not able to consistently compete on the world stage, but it also demonstrated the growth of Japan as a self-sustained rugby team.
3 August 2019: G: Hanazono Rugby Stadium; R: Jerome Garces (FRA)
○Japan 41-7 Tonga●
Data:
3/8/2019, Lipovitan D Challenge CUP Pacific Nations Cup 2019 Japan Round 2nd Game
Japan 41 Tonga 7
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Japan
Half-time 21-0
Refree: Jerome Garces (France)
Crowd: 20,940
JAPAN: 15 William Tupou, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura (22 Rikiya Matsuda 58), 11 Lomano Lava Lemeki (23 Kenki Fukuoka 70), 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Yutaka Nagare (21 Kaito Shigeno 58), 8 Amanaki Lelei Mafi, 7 Yoshitaka Tokunaga (20 Kazuki Himeno 64), 6 Michael Leitch (capt), 5 Wimpie Van Der Walt (19 Uwe Helu 56), 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Asaeli Ai Valu (18 Yusuke Kizu 70), 2 Shota Horie (16 Atsushi Sakate 64), 1 Keita Inagaki (17 Shogo Miura 73).
Reserves:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries: Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Asaeli Ai Valu, Timothy Lafaele, Kotaro Matsuchima, Kenki Fukuoka; Conversions: Yu Tamura (5); Penalty Goals: Yu Tamura (2).
Yellow Cards: Matsushima (4, sin-bin)
TONGA: 15 David Halaifonua, 14 Nafi Tuitavake (), 13 Siale PIUTAU (Cap), 12 Cooper Vuna (23 James FAIVA 69), 11 Atieli PAKALANI, 10 Latiume Fosita, 9 Sonatane Takulua (22 Leon FUKOFUKA 64), 8 Maama Vaipulu (19 Sione Vailanu 60), 7 Fotu Lokotui, 6 DANIEL FALEAFA (20 Onehunga Kaufusi 47), 5 Leva FIFITA, 4 Sitiveni Mafi (21 Zane KAPELI 69), 3 MAAFU FIA (18 Ben Tameifuna 49) , 2 Sosefo Sakalia (16 Paula NGAUAMO 56), 1 Paea Faanunu (17 Toma TAUFA 40, 80)
Reserves:
Coach:
Tries: Leva FIFITA; Conversions: Sonatane Takulua.
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 10min-try Japan, Amanaki Lelei Mafi; conv. Yu Tamura-7-0, 20min-try Japan, Asaeli Ai Valu; conv. Yu Tamura-14-0, 30min-try Japan, Timothy Lafaele; conv. Yu Tamura-21-0, 37min-Pen Tonga Sonatane Takulua (missed) 21-0, 48min-Pen Japan, Yu Tamura-24-0, 57min-try Tonga Leva FIFITA; conv. Sonatane Takulua-24-7, 69min-Pen Japan, Yu Tamura-27-7, 72min-try Japan, Kotaro Matsushima; conv. Yu Tamura-34-7, 79min-try Japan, Kenki Fukuoka; conv. Yu Tamura-41-7.
Japan kicked off the game. In the beginning, Japan struggled with the intensive pressure from Tonga that brought about a cycle of mistakes. In the 4th minute, WTB Matsushima's knocking down the ball was judged as an intentional knock-on which resulted in a sin-bin being called. Japan was forced to continue to play with 14 players. This PK sent the ball into touch and gave Tonga a lineout just right in front of the goal line. With their back against the goal line, Japan was in a serious jam. However, they were tough enough to stop the Tonga's powerful maul, showing a better defense performance, correcting the issues seen in the previous match against Fiji.
But Tonga pushed forward, kicking the ball into the empty in-goal area. When all the Japanese supporters were about to sigh, Fiji's WTB who tried to control the ball got caught in the grass and flipped over. Japan managed to get out of this jam and rushed into Fiji's territory with their continuous attacks. This led Mafi to score Japan's first try in the 10th minute after pushing forward in a maul.
In the 20th minute, Asaeli Ai Valu who is originally from Tonga, made an aggressive try while being tackled. Tamura also scored successfully, so that the score was 14-0 as of this moment. The match up until this phase raised a point to be considered that Japan had allowed turnovers several times because of their failure to control the ball during the attack. Japanese players delayed in supporting those tackled by Fijian defenders, failing to block them who try to snatch the ball. This exposed two factors: The ball carrier easily fell, and the second player was late to cover. Japan needs to correct these details in their play focusing on how to carry the ball. Thanks to Tonga's similar mistakes, Japan was able to score continuously as a result. In the 32nd minute of the second half, Tamura made a grubber kick with his back against the defense, when Matsushima ran and caught the bounced ball resulting in making a successful try. Just before full-time, WTB Fukuoka who came off the bench broke away from two tacklers with hand offs and quick steps, making a great try that got the spectators of more than 20,000 greatly excited.
While repeatedly losing the ball control due to fowls and mistakes, Japan got the ball from Fijian lineouts from time to time and proved that they had enough strength to tackle those powerful Tonga players. The match as a whole showed that Japan is still not able to consistently compete on the world stage, but it also demonstrated the growth of Japan as a self-sustained rugby team.