Test Match No.364: Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2022 vs Uruguay: 1st match

日本語 Photo
18 June 2022: G:Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium (Japan); R: Jordan Way (Aus)
○Japan 34-15 Uruguay●
 
Data:
18/6/2022, Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2022
Japan 34 – 15 Uruguay
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Japan
Half-time 15 - 3
Refree: Jordan Way (Aus)
Crowd: 14,448
 
JAPAN: 15 Seiya Ozaki (23 Taira Main 60), 14 Koki Takeyama, 13 Shane Gates, 12 Timothy Lafaele (22 Harumichi Tatekawa 69) , 11 Koga Nezuka, 10 Yu Tamura (capt), 9 Takahiro Ogawa (21 Kaito Shigeno 60), 8 Tevita Tatafu, 7 Hiroki Yamamoto, 6 Koji Iino (20 Sione Lavemai 60), 5 Yuya Odo, 4 Wimpie Van Der Walt (19 Daichi Akiyama 68), 3 Shunsuke Asaoka (18 Syuhei Takeuchi 60), 2 Kosuke Horikoshi (16 Takeshi Hino 58), 1 Shogo Mimura (17 Kota Kaishi 60).
Reserves:
HIA:
Coach: Jamie Joseph.
Tries: Koga Nezuka, Tevita Tatafu, Kosuke Horikoshi Takeshi Hino(2), ; Conversions: Yu Tamura(3); Penalty Goals: Yu Tamura
Yellow Cards: Seiya Ozaki
 
Uruguay: 15 RODRIGO SILVA (23 JOSE MARIA IRULEGUY 69), 14 MATEO VINALS, 13 NICOLAS FREITAS, 12 ANDRES VILASECA (capt), 11 BALTAZAR AMAYA (22 JUAN MANUEL ALONSO 63), 10 FELIPE ETCHEVERRY, 9 TOMAS INCIARTE (21 SANTIAGO ALVAREZ 73), 8 MANUEL ARDAO, 7 SANTIAGO CIVETTA ( 20 71), 6 LUCAS BIANCHI (20 TOMAS ETCHEVERRY 63), 5 CARLOS DEUS (19 DIEGO MAGNO 50), 4 ERIC DOSANTOS, 3 IGNACIO PECULO (17 EDGARDO BENITEZ 52), 2 GUILLERMO PUJADAS (16 EMILIANO FACCENNINI 69), 1 MATEO PERILLO (18 JUAN ECHEVERRIA 44).
Reserves:
Coach: Esteban Meneses.
Tries: DIEGO MAGNO, MANUEL ARDAO; Conversions: FELIPE ETCHEVERRY ; Penalty Goals: F FELIPE ETCHEVERRY.
 
Scoring sequence (Japan’s score shown first): 10min-try Japan, Koga Nezuka-5-0; conv. Yu Tamura (missed)-5-0, 18min-pen Japan, Yu Tamura -8-0, 35min-pen Uruguay, FELIPE ETCHEVERRY-8-3, 40min-try Japan, Tevita Tatafu-13-3; conv. Yu Tamura-15-3, 44min-try Japan, Kosuke Horikoshi-20-3; conv. Yu Tamura-22-3, 58min-try Uruguay, DIEGO MAGNO-22-8; conv. FELIPE ETCHEVERRY(missed-22-8, 63min-try Japan, Takeshi Hino-27-8; conv.Yu Tamura-29-8, 72min-try Japan, Takeshi Hino-34-8; conv.Yu Tamura(missed)-34-8, 76min-try Uruguay, MANUEL ARDAO-34-13; conv. FELIPE ETCHEVERRY-34-15
 


In the match of the Rugby World Cup 2019 at Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium, the upset of Uruguay defeating Fiji drew much attention. Still, many spectators believed the Brave Blossom would surely win the match. At the beginning of the game, Uruguay was still full of energy and put-up tenacious defence, making it difficult for the Japan Team to take control of the match. In the 10th minute of the first half, from a line-out on the right side in front of the goal line of Uruguay side, the Japanese FWs broke through the Uruguay defence line. A quick pass after ruck by Lafaele Tamura, Ozaki, and Nezuka connected to score Japan's first try in the left corner. Although Nezuka wanted to attempt to go as close to the middle as possible, he attacked from the side like the winger with 2 players' support and scored his first try in his first cap match (5-0 after Tamura missed conversion kick). In the 18th minute, Tamura succeeded in scoring with a penalty kick, bringing the score to 8-0, but the game remained in the balance for a while until Felipe Etcheverry, an Uruguay player, was approached to Japan's goal line and awarded a penalty kick which added a three-point to 8-3. Towards the end of the first half, not wanting the game to end on a bad note from Japan’s lineout on the 22m line on the right of the Uruguay territory, the ball was developed to the left and No 8. Tatafu, received a pass directly from the scrumhalf Ogawa, drove strongly and showed excellent stepping, passing two opposing players and shaking off the Uruguayan forwards with speed and scored a try.. (Tamura converted successfully, bringing the score to 15-3).

Japan finally began to settle in the second half, and in the 4th minute, Tatafu's charge led to Yamamoto and Horikoshi connecting for a try to the right of the goal post(Tamura successfully converted, bringing the score to 22-3). Yet, Uruguay fought back with the use of substitute replacement. They approached to Japan’s goal and Japan allowed Uruguay Forward Diego Magno to score a try (the conversion goal was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 22-8). However, Japan remained calm and in 23rd and 32nd minutes, successfully formed brilliant mauls from lineouts on the light in front of the Uruguay’s goal leading to two diving tries by replacement No.16 Hino (one conversion was successful, 34-8). It seemed to decide who the winner, and Japan let their guard down which allowed the Uruguay team to connect pass and Ardao scored a try in the 36th minute. The conversion was successful, bringing the score to 34-15 at full time.