Test Match No. 351: World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2019 Fiji Round 1st Game

日本語 Photo Journal
10 August 2019: G: ANZ Stadium (Fiji); R: Glen Jackson (NZ)
○Japan 34-20 USA●
 
Data:
10/8/2019, World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2019 Fiji Round 1st Game
Japan 34 - USA 20
ANZ Stadium, Fiji
Half-time 20-13
Refree: Glen Jackson (NZ)
Crowd: 2,330
 
JAPAN: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka (23 Lomano Lava Lemeki 57), 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 William Tupou, 12 Timothy Lafaele, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Yu Tamura (22 Rikiya Matsuda 64), 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (21 Yutaka Nagare 50), 8 Tui Hendrik, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Michael Leitch (capt) (20 Kazuki Himeno 57), 5 Uwe Helu (19 Wimpie Van Der Walt 50), 4 James Moore, 3 Asaeli Ai Valu (18 Yusuke Kizu), 2 Shota Horie (16 Atsushi Sakate 57), 1 Keita Inagaki (17 Koki Yamamoto 64).
Reserves:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries: Michael Leitch (2), Kenki Fukuoka, Ryohei Yamanaka; Conversions: Yu Tamura (4); Penalty Goals: Yu Tamura (2).
 
USA: 15 Will Hooley, 14 Blaine Scully (Cap), 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Paul Lasike, 11 Madison Hughes (23 Thretton Palamo 57), 10 AJ MacGinty (22 Will Magie 37), 9 Shaun Davies (21 Nate Auguspurger 54), 8 Jamason Faananaschultz (19 Sione Vailanu 60), 7 Hanco Germishuys, 6 Malon Aljiboori (20 Ben Pinkelman 57), 5 Greg Peterson (19 Ben Landry 57), 4 Nate Brakeley, 3 Paul Mullen (18 Paddy Ryan 59), 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai (16 Dylan Fawsitt 65), 1 Chance Wenglewski (17 David Ainuu 40).
Reserves:
Coach:
Tries: Madison Hughes, Hanco Germishuys; Conversions: Will Hooley (2); Penalty Goals: Will Hooley (2).
 
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 3min-try Japan, Michael Leitch; conv. Yu Tamura-7-0, 9min-Pen Japan, Yu Tamura-10-0, 11min-try Japan, Kenki Fukuoka; conv. Yu Tamura-17-0, 16min-try USA Madison Hughes; conv. Will Hooley -17-7, 29min-Pen USA Will Hooley-17-10, 39min-Pen Japan, Yu Tamura-20-10, 41min-Pen USA Will Hooley-20-13, 42min-try Japan, Ryohei Yamanaka; conv. Yu Tamura-27-13, 45min-try Japan, Michael Leitch; conv. Yu Tamura-34-13, 16min-try USA Hanco Germishuys; conv. Will Hooley-34-20.
 


Japan made a better start. In the 3rd minute, FL Michael Leitch, the captain, made their first try initiated by a lineout maul. In the 11th minute, PR Inagaki, HO Horie, and forwards swiftly passed the ball from the lineout at the 22m line, finished by Fukuoka who received the ball from WTB Matsushima. As of the 12th minute from the kick-off, Japan led by 17 points.
But the US suddenly turned the game around. In the 14th minute, both teams formed their first scrum with the ball on the US side. The US moved the ball down the field with smooth passes and finished with a try made by WTB Madison Hughes. Allowing consecutive breakthroughs by powerful US forwards, Japan's defense line was frayed in front of the goal line (17-7). During scrums, Japan started to give away with fouls. Japan killed their chances and failed to add additional scores because of their mistakes. Amid such a diminished game, both teams scored PGs and the first half ended with a score of 20-13.
After the kick-off to start the second half, Japan regained their momentum. In the 1st minute, Tamura kicked the ball into touch which successfully led Japan to enter into the opponent's territory. While forwards patiently carried the ball down the line from the lineout, FB Yamanaka dived into an empty space generated (27-13). In the 15th minute, catching the ball kicked by a US forward, Fukuoka passed the ball to Yamanaka who carried the ball about 30m down the sideline. His play led to the second try made by Michael Leitch, turning the tide again for Japan. Yamanaka got in the game for the first time the past three months since he played for his team, the Sunwolves. “I was nervous and became a bit frozen,” said Yamanaka. In spite of missing a catch in the first half, he immediately recovered from his mistake with an aggressive save and got involved in the game-ending try. His performance showed that he was deserving of being a member of the Japan national team for the RWC.
The final score was 34-20. Led by South African HC Gary Gold (HC of Kobe Steel in 2014), the US has steadily increased their physical strengths. Gary Gold gave Japan high marks for their performance, saying: “Japan took advantage of three mistakes we made in the first half, connecting all of them to successful scores. Japan has good rhythm with excellent skills.” He also commented about Yamanaka, saying: “He has become mature. I'm proud that he became a member of the Japan national team.”
Japan tried to move the ball during the first half, but they often lost possessions pressured by the US players who used their physical advantages. In the second half, Japan won back their momentum and control over the game by effectively using their highly accurate kicks. This match showed that Japan has become competitive enough to control the game by themselves. By the start of the RWC, Japan has to work on how to respond to refereeing during the game. Horie and Inagaki have become extremely careful for refereeing especially during a scrum.
HC Jamie Joseph gave an overall passing mark to the team, saying: “Our team was not in the best condition, but it happens in a championship like this. I think participating in this championship served as a good pre-session for the RWC.”