日本語 Photo Journal
20 October 2019: G: Tokyo Stadium; R: Wayne Barnes (ENG)
●Japan 3-26 South Africa○
Data:
20/10/2019, World Cup 2019 Quarter final
Japan 3– RSA 26
Tokyo Rugby Stadium, Japan
Half-time 3-5
Refree: Wayne Barnes (England)
Crowd: 48,831
JAPAN: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka (23 Lomano Lava Lemeki 60), 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Yu Tamura (22 Rikiya Matsuda 48), 9 Yutaka Nagar (21 Fumiaki Tanaka 72), 8 Kazuki Himeno (20 Amanaki Lelei Mafi 52), 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Michael Leitch (capt), 5 James Moore (19 Wimpie Van Der Walt 54), 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Jiwon Koo (18 Asaeli Ai Valu 64), 2 Shota Horie (16Atsushi Sakate 72), 1 Keita Inagaki (17 Isileli Nakajima 48, 1 Keita Inagaki 68).
Reserves:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries:; Conversions:; Penalty Goals: Yu Tamura.
Yellow Cards:
RSA: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe (23 Frans Steyn 72), 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk (22 Herschel Jantjies 74), 8 Duane Vermeulen (21 Francois Louw 68), 7 Pieter-Steph Du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (Capt), 5 Lood de Jager (20 Franco Mostert 67), 4 Eben Etzebeth (19 RG Snyman 63), 3 Frans Malherbe (18 Vincent Koche 54), 2 Bongi Mbonambi (16 Malcolm Marx 37), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (17 Steven Kitshoff 54).
Reserves:
Coach:
Tries: Makazole Mapimpi (2), Faf de Klerk; Conversions: Handre Pollard; Penalty Goals: Handre Pollard (3).
Yellow Cards: Bongi Mbonambi (10, sin-bin)
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 4min-try RSA, Makazole Mapimpi; conv. Handre Pollard (missed) -0-5, 20min-pen Japan, Yu Tamura-3-5, 44min-pen RSA, Handre Pollard-3-8, 49min-pen RSA, Handre Pollard-3-11, 58min-pen RSA, Handre Pollard (missed)-3-11, 64min-pen RSA, Handre Pollard-3-14, 66min-try RSA, Faf de Klerk; conv. Handre Pollard -0-21, 70min-try RSA, Makazole Mapimpi; conv. Handre Pollard (missed)-3-26.
Japan went all out and won all the four matches in the pool stage with its leading players, and advanced to the knock-out stage for the first time in history. In the semifinals, Japan faced South Africa, the Springboks, known for winning two RWCs. In the face of regretful loss to the All Blacks at the first match in the pool stage, the Springboks had gone through all the other three pool matches by using all 31 registered players to avoid tiring out.
The match started with the South African kick-off. SH Faf de Klerk and WTB Cheslin Kolbe, though they are small, adrenalised the whole team with their physical performance and fighting spirit. In the previous RWC held in England, the Springboks were defeated by Japan 34-32 in their first pool match, known as the greatest upset in rugby history. Therefore, this battle-hardened team must have studied and analysed Japan's strategies and tactics. The South African back line seemed to be a little bit offside but kept on pressuring Japanese backs and did not allow SO Tamura, the playmaker for Japan, to play freely. In the 4th minute after the kick-off, a scrum was formed on the left side around the 22m line in the Japan's territory. Japan tactically positioned Tamura in an area where the opponent was unlikely to attack, but the Springboks pressured Japan with a scrum leading Leitch to be unable to break. Then SH De Klerk passed the ball to WTB Makazole Mapimpi who was on the blind side, creating a situation where he faced Tamura one on one. Tamura tried to prevent Mapimpi from overtaking from outside, but Mapimpi charged down the line and easily dodged Tamura's tackle while outrunning FB Yamanaka's tackle. Mapimpi dived into the left corner and made a try (5-0). If Japan had had equal power, Leitch or Himeno could have stopped the scrum. But they easily allowed the Springboks, which developed a logical attack, to gain an early lead. In the 10th minute of the first half, when Japan was attacking in a row, South African PR Tendai Mtawarira lifted Inagaki off the ground in a tackle, which penalised Mtawarira with a sin-bin (out of the game for 10 min.). This changed the game flow, allowing Japan to carry the ball toward the left by slipping through South African pressure in the 15th minute of the first half. Himeno passed the ball to the Japan's ace, Fukuoka. Fukuoka faced a fast runner WTB Kolbe but outran him with his specialty by changing the pace, while dodging FB Willie Le Roux. In previous matches with opponents other than the Springboks, Fukuoka could have easily dived into the in-goal area or have passed the ball to Matsushima who could make a try. In this match, however, Japan faced South African defenders obsessed for victory. CTB Damian de Allende, who put forth all effort to back up other players, tackled and stopped Fukuoka. After this play, Japan approached the South African goal line with forwards and backs as one, while possessing the ball and keeping their attacks. However, the Springboks totally differed from other opponents that Japan had faced through this RWC in contact power and interception capacity. Despite all the effort, Japan failed to score because of a penalty awarded for not getting through the gate. Trying to make a score somehow while the Springboks had only 14 players, in the 19th minute of the first half, Japan pushed the opponent's scrum formed with seven players in the middle section of the South African territory, and a penalty was awarded. Tamura made this PG easily leading the team to come closer to the opponent, 5-3. Thanks to careless mistakes made by South Africa, the game remained deadlock when the first half ended with the score of 5-3. Japan's ball possession rate actually exceeded 80%. But the Springboks' strategy was possibly to strengthen their defense in the first half so as to observe and discern what kind of strategy Japan would take.
In the second half, the Springboks put greater pressure on Japanese forwards based on their analysis of the first half, by utilizing other tactics like the substitution of reserved members including six forwards. Strong pressure from the Springboks' forwards brought penalties awarded to the Brave Blossoms in the 4th, 9th, and 24th minutes. SO Handre Pollard made all of these PGs, stretching their lead to 14-3. In the 26th minute, the Springboks pushed through the maul they formed around midfield all the way toward the Japan's goal line. In the end, the strongest HO Malcolm Marx passed the ball to De Klerk who made the second successful try.Previously in this RWC, facing such a situation, Japan did not lose their control but immediately turned to offense if they got the ball. When a penalty was awarded, Tamura made an amazing kick that led them to the 22m area of the opponent's territory. At the end of this match, however, Japan allowed South Africa to intercept the ball in every lineout that should have given them a chance to win, failing to lead to Japan's specialty, an attack by all. In the 30th minute, SO Pollard broke into space which led South African backs to spread toward the left. The left WTB Mapimpi received the ball, outrunning Matsushima, and dived into the left corner of the in-goal area (26-3). When facing this type of situation, Japan used to lose their control allowing the opponents to get big points. But it was not the case with the Japan in this RWC, where Japanese players kept on tackling the opponent's forwards.
Though the Springboks had already made large scores, they kept on attacking, while Japan also tried to counterattack aggressively with strong tackles. Valu and Inagaki wrestled South African giant LO RG Snyman forcefully down to the ground face-up with their double tackle. Their fighting spirit made SO Pollard give up on keeping their attack, and the game reached full-time when he kicked the ball into touch.
The previous RWC taught Japan a lesson that defeating the opponent is not enough but earning points is the most important thing to advance to the knock-out stage. Through this RWC, the Brave Blossoms totally experienced how to go through the pool stage in order to make advancement to the knock-out stage and the strengths at higher levels of the set plays developed by the rugby powerhouses at each critical moment within the game. We all know that it is not such an easy task, but all of us cannot stop wishing for their further active performances in the future. The cheering and applause shown by shy Japanese supporters at stadiums with a sense of unity must have gained high praise from international rugby fans all over the world.
20 October 2019: G: Tokyo Stadium; R: Wayne Barnes (ENG)
●Japan 3-26 South Africa○
Data:
20/10/2019, World Cup 2019 Quarter final
Japan 3– RSA 26
Tokyo Rugby Stadium, Japan
Half-time 3-5
Refree: Wayne Barnes (England)
Crowd: 48,831
JAPAN: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka (23 Lomano Lava Lemeki 60), 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Yu Tamura (22 Rikiya Matsuda 48), 9 Yutaka Nagar (21 Fumiaki Tanaka 72), 8 Kazuki Himeno (20 Amanaki Lelei Mafi 52), 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Michael Leitch (capt), 5 James Moore (19 Wimpie Van Der Walt 54), 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Jiwon Koo (18 Asaeli Ai Valu 64), 2 Shota Horie (16Atsushi Sakate 72), 1 Keita Inagaki (17 Isileli Nakajima 48, 1 Keita Inagaki 68).
Reserves:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries:; Conversions:; Penalty Goals: Yu Tamura.
Yellow Cards:
RSA: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe (23 Frans Steyn 72), 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk (22 Herschel Jantjies 74), 8 Duane Vermeulen (21 Francois Louw 68), 7 Pieter-Steph Du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (Capt), 5 Lood de Jager (20 Franco Mostert 67), 4 Eben Etzebeth (19 RG Snyman 63), 3 Frans Malherbe (18 Vincent Koche 54), 2 Bongi Mbonambi (16 Malcolm Marx 37), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (17 Steven Kitshoff 54).
Reserves:
Coach:
Tries: Makazole Mapimpi (2), Faf de Klerk; Conversions: Handre Pollard; Penalty Goals: Handre Pollard (3).
Yellow Cards: Bongi Mbonambi (10, sin-bin)
Scoring sequence (Japan's score shown first): 4min-try RSA, Makazole Mapimpi; conv. Handre Pollard (missed) -0-5, 20min-pen Japan, Yu Tamura-3-5, 44min-pen RSA, Handre Pollard-3-8, 49min-pen RSA, Handre Pollard-3-11, 58min-pen RSA, Handre Pollard (missed)-3-11, 64min-pen RSA, Handre Pollard-3-14, 66min-try RSA, Faf de Klerk; conv. Handre Pollard -0-21, 70min-try RSA, Makazole Mapimpi; conv. Handre Pollard (missed)-3-26.
Japan went all out and won all the four matches in the pool stage with its leading players, and advanced to the knock-out stage for the first time in history. In the semifinals, Japan faced South Africa, the Springboks, known for winning two RWCs. In the face of regretful loss to the All Blacks at the first match in the pool stage, the Springboks had gone through all the other three pool matches by using all 31 registered players to avoid tiring out.
The match started with the South African kick-off. SH Faf de Klerk and WTB Cheslin Kolbe, though they are small, adrenalised the whole team with their physical performance and fighting spirit. In the previous RWC held in England, the Springboks were defeated by Japan 34-32 in their first pool match, known as the greatest upset in rugby history. Therefore, this battle-hardened team must have studied and analysed Japan's strategies and tactics. The South African back line seemed to be a little bit offside but kept on pressuring Japanese backs and did not allow SO Tamura, the playmaker for Japan, to play freely. In the 4th minute after the kick-off, a scrum was formed on the left side around the 22m line in the Japan's territory. Japan tactically positioned Tamura in an area where the opponent was unlikely to attack, but the Springboks pressured Japan with a scrum leading Leitch to be unable to break. Then SH De Klerk passed the ball to WTB Makazole Mapimpi who was on the blind side, creating a situation where he faced Tamura one on one. Tamura tried to prevent Mapimpi from overtaking from outside, but Mapimpi charged down the line and easily dodged Tamura's tackle while outrunning FB Yamanaka's tackle. Mapimpi dived into the left corner and made a try (5-0). If Japan had had equal power, Leitch or Himeno could have stopped the scrum. But they easily allowed the Springboks, which developed a logical attack, to gain an early lead. In the 10th minute of the first half, when Japan was attacking in a row, South African PR Tendai Mtawarira lifted Inagaki off the ground in a tackle, which penalised Mtawarira with a sin-bin (out of the game for 10 min.). This changed the game flow, allowing Japan to carry the ball toward the left by slipping through South African pressure in the 15th minute of the first half. Himeno passed the ball to the Japan's ace, Fukuoka. Fukuoka faced a fast runner WTB Kolbe but outran him with his specialty by changing the pace, while dodging FB Willie Le Roux. In previous matches with opponents other than the Springboks, Fukuoka could have easily dived into the in-goal area or have passed the ball to Matsushima who could make a try. In this match, however, Japan faced South African defenders obsessed for victory. CTB Damian de Allende, who put forth all effort to back up other players, tackled and stopped Fukuoka. After this play, Japan approached the South African goal line with forwards and backs as one, while possessing the ball and keeping their attacks. However, the Springboks totally differed from other opponents that Japan had faced through this RWC in contact power and interception capacity. Despite all the effort, Japan failed to score because of a penalty awarded for not getting through the gate. Trying to make a score somehow while the Springboks had only 14 players, in the 19th minute of the first half, Japan pushed the opponent's scrum formed with seven players in the middle section of the South African territory, and a penalty was awarded. Tamura made this PG easily leading the team to come closer to the opponent, 5-3. Thanks to careless mistakes made by South Africa, the game remained deadlock when the first half ended with the score of 5-3. Japan's ball possession rate actually exceeded 80%. But the Springboks' strategy was possibly to strengthen their defense in the first half so as to observe and discern what kind of strategy Japan would take.
In the second half, the Springboks put greater pressure on Japanese forwards based on their analysis of the first half, by utilizing other tactics like the substitution of reserved members including six forwards. Strong pressure from the Springboks' forwards brought penalties awarded to the Brave Blossoms in the 4th, 9th, and 24th minutes. SO Handre Pollard made all of these PGs, stretching their lead to 14-3. In the 26th minute, the Springboks pushed through the maul they formed around midfield all the way toward the Japan's goal line. In the end, the strongest HO Malcolm Marx passed the ball to De Klerk who made the second successful try.Previously in this RWC, facing such a situation, Japan did not lose their control but immediately turned to offense if they got the ball. When a penalty was awarded, Tamura made an amazing kick that led them to the 22m area of the opponent's territory. At the end of this match, however, Japan allowed South Africa to intercept the ball in every lineout that should have given them a chance to win, failing to lead to Japan's specialty, an attack by all. In the 30th minute, SO Pollard broke into space which led South African backs to spread toward the left. The left WTB Mapimpi received the ball, outrunning Matsushima, and dived into the left corner of the in-goal area (26-3). When facing this type of situation, Japan used to lose their control allowing the opponents to get big points. But it was not the case with the Japan in this RWC, where Japanese players kept on tackling the opponent's forwards.
Though the Springboks had already made large scores, they kept on attacking, while Japan also tried to counterattack aggressively with strong tackles. Valu and Inagaki wrestled South African giant LO RG Snyman forcefully down to the ground face-up with their double tackle. Their fighting spirit made SO Pollard give up on keeping their attack, and the game reached full-time when he kicked the ball into touch.
The previous RWC taught Japan a lesson that defeating the opponent is not enough but earning points is the most important thing to advance to the knock-out stage. Through this RWC, the Brave Blossoms totally experienced how to go through the pool stage in order to make advancement to the knock-out stage and the strengths at higher levels of the set plays developed by the rugby powerhouses at each critical moment within the game. We all know that it is not such an easy task, but all of us cannot stop wishing for their further active performances in the future. The cheering and applause shown by shy Japanese supporters at stadiums with a sense of unity must have gained high praise from international rugby fans all over the world.