日本語 Photo Journal
20 November 2021: G: Murayfield Stadium (Scotland); R: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
●Japan 20-29 Scotland○
Data:
20/11/2021, Challenge Tour 2021
Japan 20 – 29 Scotland
Murrayfield Stadium, Scotland
Half-time 6 - 19
Refree: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
Crowd: 67,144
JAPAN: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka (22 Yu Tamura 62), 14 Kotaro Matsushima , 13 Shogo Nakano (23 DylanRiley 41) , 12 Ryoto Nakamura , 11 Siosaia Fifita, 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Yutaka Nagare (21 Naoto Saito 71), 8 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Pieter Labuschagne (capt), 6 Michael Leitch ( 20 Tevita Tatafu 62), 5 James Moore, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Asaeli Ai Valu (18 Shinnosuke Kakinaga 62), 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Craig Millar (17 Keita Inagaki 62).
Reserves: 16 Kosuke Horikoshi, 19 Ben Gunter
HIA:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries: Tevita Tatafu; Conversions: ; Penalty Goals: Rikiya Matsuda (5)
Yellow Cards:
SCOTLAND: 15 Stuart Hogg (capt), 14 Darcy Graham (23 Blair Kinghorn 63), 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price (22 George Horne 62), 8 Josh Bayliss, 7 Hamish Watson ( 20 Dylan Richardson 71), 6 Jamie Ritchie (21 Matt Fagerson 62), 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Scott Cummings (19 Sam Skinner 72), 3 Zander Fagerson (18 Javan Sebastian 63), 2 George Turner (16 Stuart McInally 54), 1 Jamie Bhatti (17 Pierre Schoeman 54).
Reserves:
Coach: Gregor Townsend.
Tries: Duhan van der Merwe, Stuart Hogg, Darcy Graham, Stuart McInally; Conversions: Finn Russell (3) ; Penalty Goals: Finn Russell.
Scoring sequence (Japan’s score shown first): 6min-try Scotland, Duhan van der Merwe-0-5; conv. Finn Russell (missed)-0-5, 11min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-3-5, 15min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda (missed)-3-5, 26min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-6-5, 28min-try Scotland, Stuart Hogg-6-10; conv. Finn Russell-6-12, 40min-try Scotland, Darcy Graham-6-17; conv. Finn Russell-6-19, 43min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-9-19, 47min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-12-19, 55min-try Scotland, Stuart McInally-12-24; conv. Finn Russell-12-26, 66min-try Japan, Tevita Tatafu-17-26; conv. Rikiya Matsuda(missed)-17-26, 72min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-20-26, 79min-pg Scotland, Finn Russell-20-29
Japan was completely defeated by Ireland and won by a narrow margin at the test match against Portugal. How would Japan fair when facing Scotland and what would be the score? The Japanese rugby fans and supporters must have had such questions with half of excitement and half worry. Japan had not done well with kicks against Ireland. Therefore, in this match, they concealed a strategy based on kicks, but they concentrated on making fast attacks to secure possession. Despite allowing Scotland to make four tries made by excellent individual techniques and speedy offense, Japan tackled very well with all 15 players and making the game very tight with Matsuda’s PG.
In the 6th minute of the first half, Scotland penetrated into the Japanese zone by forming a maul at a line-out on the left side in front of the Japan’s goal line. From a ruck, the FWs repeatedly attacked into the Japan’s goal line and a huge WTB, Duhan Van der Merwe, finally pushed through to make a try. Their conversion failed, and the score became 5-0. Scotland, instead of relying on power plays of FWs, bravely spread their BKs. With good judgment by No. 10 and the sharp runs of No. 15, Japan suffered several mistakes. But Japan patiently pushed scrums and all of the players tenaciously tackled, as they played defensive. In the 11th and 26th minutes, Matsuda made PGs, allowing Japan to come from behind, 6-5. Matsushima’s great run which drew a PK in the 26th minute was really worth watching. But this ignited Scotland. They kept on gaining phases with their spreading attacks using all 15 players. They spread toward the left from a ruck formed in the center at the 22-m line of Japan. Scottish FB, Stuart Hogg, easily fended off a Japanese player’s tackle while running through the end to make a try. A successful conversion made by Russel, No. 10, led Scotland to come from behind, with the score 12-6. After this Japan made many great tackles and the scoring stalled. Then just before the end of the first half, Scotland made a pick-off play during a scrum formed on the left side of Japan’s 22-m line. A great cut pass was made between No. 10 and No. 14, while Graham, No. 14, passed three Japanese back-up players and made a try in the left corner. Russel converted and made the score 19-6.
In the second half, gaining some confidence through the first-half game, Japan started moving aggressively. Despite Scottish No. 1’s yellow-card charge, Matsuda made successful PGs in the 3rd and 7th minutes, making the score 19-12. They were now within reach if they could only make a try with a conversion. Yet Scotland was refreshed with the use of substitutions and all 15 were back in the game. They then pushed into a maul from a line-out on the left side within 5 metres of Japan’s goal line. Finally, McInally, No. 16 substituted, made a try and Russel converted, making the score 26-12. This lead offered a safety net for Scotland. However, none of Japanese players gave up. In the 24th minute, they started to control the ball from a line-out on the left around the half-way line. From the Japan’s zone, Nakamura, No. 12, made a long kick and crossed the touchline just in front of the Scottish goal line. Based on the new 50-22 rule (a team which kicks and bounces the ball out (except for going directly into the touch) from anywhere within their own 50 metres to the opposition’s 22 will get an attacking line-out), Japan got a line-out on the right, 5 metres in front of the Scottish goal line. Due to Scotland’s great pressure, Cornelsen somehow caught the ball from the Japan’s line-out, but Japan also managed to control the ball. Tatafu, No. 20, rushed forward and bounced off Scottish defenders, diving into the Japan’s in-goal area. Matsuda failed to convert, making the score 26-17. In the 32nd minute, Japan was able to attack the Scottish zone again and got another PK. Matsuda successfully made this PG and the score became 26-20. The fans for Japan were filled with excitement. Japan attacked the Scottish zone again and controlled the ball, which made everybody expect another score. But this resulted in a successful kick by Russel in the 39th minute, and the match ended on this note.
In the match against Scotland, they tried to reflect what they learned from being thoroughly defeated by Ireland. Even though they lost to Scotland, they showed their accumulated current ability. It was impressive in this European tour that Ireland and Scotland did not play their usual conservative style using power plays by FWs and kick tactics but introduced open offense strategies developed by all players.
20 November 2021: G: Murayfield Stadium (Scotland); R: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
●Japan 20-29 Scotland○
Data:
20/11/2021, Challenge Tour 2021
Japan 20 – 29 Scotland
Murrayfield Stadium, Scotland
Half-time 6 - 19
Refree: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)
Crowd: 67,144
JAPAN: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka (22 Yu Tamura 62), 14 Kotaro Matsushima , 13 Shogo Nakano (23 DylanRiley 41) , 12 Ryoto Nakamura , 11 Siosaia Fifita, 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Yutaka Nagare (21 Naoto Saito 71), 8 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Pieter Labuschagne (capt), 6 Michael Leitch ( 20 Tevita Tatafu 62), 5 James Moore, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Asaeli Ai Valu (18 Shinnosuke Kakinaga 62), 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Craig Millar (17 Keita Inagaki 62).
Reserves: 16 Kosuke Horikoshi, 19 Ben Gunter
HIA:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries: Tevita Tatafu; Conversions: ; Penalty Goals: Rikiya Matsuda (5)
Yellow Cards:
SCOTLAND: 15 Stuart Hogg (capt), 14 Darcy Graham (23 Blair Kinghorn 63), 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price (22 George Horne 62), 8 Josh Bayliss, 7 Hamish Watson ( 20 Dylan Richardson 71), 6 Jamie Ritchie (21 Matt Fagerson 62), 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Scott Cummings (19 Sam Skinner 72), 3 Zander Fagerson (18 Javan Sebastian 63), 2 George Turner (16 Stuart McInally 54), 1 Jamie Bhatti (17 Pierre Schoeman 54).
Reserves:
Coach: Gregor Townsend.
Tries: Duhan van der Merwe, Stuart Hogg, Darcy Graham, Stuart McInally; Conversions: Finn Russell (3) ; Penalty Goals: Finn Russell.
Scoring sequence (Japan’s score shown first): 6min-try Scotland, Duhan van der Merwe-0-5; conv. Finn Russell (missed)-0-5, 11min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-3-5, 15min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda (missed)-3-5, 26min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-6-5, 28min-try Scotland, Stuart Hogg-6-10; conv. Finn Russell-6-12, 40min-try Scotland, Darcy Graham-6-17; conv. Finn Russell-6-19, 43min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-9-19, 47min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-12-19, 55min-try Scotland, Stuart McInally-12-24; conv. Finn Russell-12-26, 66min-try Japan, Tevita Tatafu-17-26; conv. Rikiya Matsuda(missed)-17-26, 72min-pen Japan, Rikiya Matsuda-20-26, 79min-pg Scotland, Finn Russell-20-29
Japan was completely defeated by Ireland and won by a narrow margin at the test match against Portugal. How would Japan fair when facing Scotland and what would be the score? The Japanese rugby fans and supporters must have had such questions with half of excitement and half worry. Japan had not done well with kicks against Ireland. Therefore, in this match, they concealed a strategy based on kicks, but they concentrated on making fast attacks to secure possession. Despite allowing Scotland to make four tries made by excellent individual techniques and speedy offense, Japan tackled very well with all 15 players and making the game very tight with Matsuda’s PG.
In the 6th minute of the first half, Scotland penetrated into the Japanese zone by forming a maul at a line-out on the left side in front of the Japan’s goal line. From a ruck, the FWs repeatedly attacked into the Japan’s goal line and a huge WTB, Duhan Van der Merwe, finally pushed through to make a try. Their conversion failed, and the score became 5-0. Scotland, instead of relying on power plays of FWs, bravely spread their BKs. With good judgment by No. 10 and the sharp runs of No. 15, Japan suffered several mistakes. But Japan patiently pushed scrums and all of the players tenaciously tackled, as they played defensive. In the 11th and 26th minutes, Matsuda made PGs, allowing Japan to come from behind, 6-5. Matsushima’s great run which drew a PK in the 26th minute was really worth watching. But this ignited Scotland. They kept on gaining phases with their spreading attacks using all 15 players. They spread toward the left from a ruck formed in the center at the 22-m line of Japan. Scottish FB, Stuart Hogg, easily fended off a Japanese player’s tackle while running through the end to make a try. A successful conversion made by Russel, No. 10, led Scotland to come from behind, with the score 12-6. After this Japan made many great tackles and the scoring stalled. Then just before the end of the first half, Scotland made a pick-off play during a scrum formed on the left side of Japan’s 22-m line. A great cut pass was made between No. 10 and No. 14, while Graham, No. 14, passed three Japanese back-up players and made a try in the left corner. Russel converted and made the score 19-6.
In the second half, gaining some confidence through the first-half game, Japan started moving aggressively. Despite Scottish No. 1’s yellow-card charge, Matsuda made successful PGs in the 3rd and 7th minutes, making the score 19-12. They were now within reach if they could only make a try with a conversion. Yet Scotland was refreshed with the use of substitutions and all 15 were back in the game. They then pushed into a maul from a line-out on the left side within 5 metres of Japan’s goal line. Finally, McInally, No. 16 substituted, made a try and Russel converted, making the score 26-12. This lead offered a safety net for Scotland. However, none of Japanese players gave up. In the 24th minute, they started to control the ball from a line-out on the left around the half-way line. From the Japan’s zone, Nakamura, No. 12, made a long kick and crossed the touchline just in front of the Scottish goal line. Based on the new 50-22 rule (a team which kicks and bounces the ball out (except for going directly into the touch) from anywhere within their own 50 metres to the opposition’s 22 will get an attacking line-out), Japan got a line-out on the right, 5 metres in front of the Scottish goal line. Due to Scotland’s great pressure, Cornelsen somehow caught the ball from the Japan’s line-out, but Japan also managed to control the ball. Tatafu, No. 20, rushed forward and bounced off Scottish defenders, diving into the Japan’s in-goal area. Matsuda failed to convert, making the score 26-17. In the 32nd minute, Japan was able to attack the Scottish zone again and got another PK. Matsuda successfully made this PG and the score became 26-20. The fans for Japan were filled with excitement. Japan attacked the Scottish zone again and controlled the ball, which made everybody expect another score. But this resulted in a successful kick by Russel in the 39th minute, and the match ended on this note.
In the match against Scotland, they tried to reflect what they learned from being thoroughly defeated by Ireland. Even though they lost to Scotland, they showed their accumulated current ability. It was impressive in this European tour that Ireland and Scotland did not play their usual conservative style using power plays by FWs and kick tactics but introduced open offense strategies developed by all players.