30 August 2025: G: Yurtec Stadium (Japan Sendai) ; R: Paul Williams (NZR)
○Japan 57-15 Canada●
Data:
30/8/2025, Pacific Nations Cup 2025
Japan 57 – 15 Canada
Yurtec Stadium (Japan Sendai)
Half-time 17 – 10
Refree: Paul Williams (NZR)
Crowd: 11,187
JAPAN: 15 Sam Greene, 14 Kippei Ishida, 13 Dylan Riley (22 Yuya Hirose 70), 12 Charlie Lawrence, 11 Malo Tuitama (23 Tomoki Osada 46), 10 Seungsin Lee, 9 Shinobu Fujiwara (21 Kenta Fukuda 47), 8 Amato Fakatava (20 Faulua Makisi 63), 7 Kanji Shimokawa (19 Tiennan Costley 68), 6 Gunter Ben, 5 Warner Dearns (capt), 4 Waisake Raratubua, 3 Shyuhei Takeuchi (18 Keijiro Tamefusa 53), 2 Hayate Era (16 Kenji Sato 65), 1 Sena Kimura (17 Kenta Kobayashi 52).
Reserves:
HIA:
Coach: Eddie Jones.
Tries: Amato Fakatava (2), Warner Dearns, Sam Greene, Gunter Ben, Tomoki Osada, Kippei Ishida (2).; Conversions: Seungsin Lee (7); Penalty Goals: Seungsin Lee; Drop Goals: None.
Red Cards:, Yellow Cards: 4 Waisake Raratubua (Repeated foul play).
Canada: 15 Shane Oleary, 14 Josiah Morra, 13 Ben Lesage, 12 Spencer Jones (22 Noah Flesch 61), 11 Nic Benn (23 Brenden Black 73), 10 Peter Nelson, 9 Jason Higgins (21 Stephen Webb 75), 8 Matthew Oworu (20 Matt Heaton 56), 7 Lucas Rumball (capt), 6 Sion Parry, 5 Mason Flesch (19 Callum Botchar 65) , 4 Piers Von Dadelszen, 3 Cole Keith (18 Conor Young 56), 2 Dewald Kotze (16 Jesse Mackail 67), 1 Calixto Martinez (17 Emerson Prior 67).
Reserves:
HIA:
Coach: Stephen Meehan.
Tries: Sion Parry, Jesse Mackail.; Conversions: Peter Nelson; Penalty Goals: Peter Nelson; Drop Goals: None.
Yellow Cards:.
Scoring sequence (Japan’s score shown first): 3min-try Japan, Amato Fakatava-5-0; conv. Seungsin Lee-0-7, 13min-pg Japan, Seungsin Lee-10-0, 23min-try Canada, Sion Parry-10-5; conv. Peter Nelson-10-7, 30min-pg Canada, Peter Nelson-10-10, 38min-try Japan, Warner Dearns-15-10; conv. Seungsin Lee-17-10, 55min-try Japan, Amato Fakatava-22-10; conv. Seungsin Lee-24-10, 60min-try Japan, Sam Greene-29-10; conv. Seungsin Lee (missed)-29-10, 65min-try Japan, Gunter Ben-34-10; conv. Seungsin Lee-36-10, 73min-try Japan, Tomoki Osada-41-10; conv. Seungsin Lee-43-10, 77min-try Japan, Kippei Ishida-48-10; conv. Seungsin Lee-50-10, 79min-try Canada, Jesse Mackail-50-15; conv. Peter Nelson (missed)-50-15, 77min-try Japan, Kippei Ishida-55-15; conv. Seungsin Lee-57-15.
Lock number 5 Warner Deans, serving as captain for the first time, is the youngest captain since the war (at 23 years and 4 months old). Also likely in line with head coach Eddie's wishes, number 1 Kimura, number 2 Era, number 4 Lalatubua, and number 15 Green all made their first starts, while number 12 Lawrence made his first cap. Reserves Sato, Kobayashi, and Hirose can get the first cap, if they play at the game. It seems the match against Canada, a team considered inferior, was seen as a perfect opportunity to test out new talent.
The match began with a Japanese kickoff, and Japan relied on their youthful energy to showcase their lightning-fast rugby. In the third minute, Japan earned a free kick in a scrum on the left side of the Canadian goal. Japan got off to a lightning-fast start, with number 8 Fakatava charging toward the Canadian goal and sending the ball into the try zone (Lee's goal made it 7-0). Japan continued their lightning-fast and aggressive attacks, and in the 11th minute, number 14 Ishida brought the ball into the try zone, but Canada's tenacious defense prevented him from downing the ball. In the 13th minute, Lee calmly scored a penalty goal from the center to extend the lead (10-0). However, after that, Japan dropped the ball on a chance and was repeatedly offside due to careless positioning during defense, and the momentum gradually changed, with Japan being pushed back in front of the goal. Japan repeatedly fended off Canada's lineout mauls in front of their goal, but struggled to break out of their own half.
Then, after a water break, in the 23rd minute, Canada again approached the goal line, and their forwards united from a lineout maul and surged into the try zone (No. 6 Parry's try and No. 10 Nelson's goal to make it 10-7). Japan continued to launch lightning-fast attacks, but mistakes and fouls kept the momentum going. At the 30th minute, Nelson's penalty goal tied the score at 10-10 (the referee issued a warning for Japan's repeated fouls). After the restart, Japan made some impressive tackles into Canada's half, but again, they committed a careless offside, earning No. 4 Lalatubua a yellow card. The momentum remained Canada side until the 35th minute, when a great tackle and a steal by No. 6 Gunter earned a penalty kick on a Canada-ball lineout attack to the right of the halfway line. Japan, now in the enemy's territory, launched a series of lightning-fast attacks from a lineout just before the left 22-meter line, building up multiple phases, but again but again they dropped the ball. However, with a free kick earned from this Canada-ball scrum, No. 9 Fujiwara tapped the ball and passed it to No. 3 Takeuchi.
Takeuchi charged powerfully, closing in on the try zone. From the ruck, a pass was made to No. 5 captain Warner, who, with support from No. 2 Era, stormed into the try zone (Lee's goal made it 17-10).
After the restart, Japan continued their bold attack with lightning-fast attacks from the scrum after the buzzer sounded, but they dropped the ball in front of the goal, bringing the game to halftime. The outcome of the second half would depend on whether Japan could eliminate mistakes on opportunities and careless offsides.
The second half began with a Canadian kickoff, with both sides trading kicks and vying for territory.
However, Japan was unable to get on a roll after a foul (obstruction) during a high punt contest. In the 46th minute, No. 11 Tuitama was replaced by No. 23 Osada, and in the 47th minute, No. 9 Fujiwara was replaced by No. 21 Fukuda. Canada then attacked, but Japan held off with some solid tackles and applied pressure in the scrum, earning a penalty kick. Canada also defended tenaciously against Japan's aggressive attacks, and when a Japanese player was isolated, they earned a penalty kick with a steal. In the 52nd minute, No. 17 Kobayashi was brought in for No. 1 Kimura (Kobayashi's first cap). In the 53rd minute, No. 3 Takeuchi was replaced by No. 18 Tamefusa. Just when Japan desperately needed to break the stalemate, Canada No. 11 Ben received a kick from Japan's own half and attempted a counterattack, but Warner caught him tightly to prevent it from being taken down. No. 21 Fukuda took a good vertical kick from a loose ball from 10 meters into their own half, which went into touch, getting the rule as 50-22 (a crucial play that changed the momentum). From a lineout 10 meters to the left of the Canadian goal, Japan launched consecutive attacks, with No. 12 Lawrence and No. 23 Nagata charging vertically to the right. Passes were made to Lee, Riley, Lee, and Gunter, but Gunter's pass fell behind. No. 14 Ishida immediately made a save, rose to his feet, and broke forward. Lee and Green connected to form a ruck 5 meters to the right of the goal. After Tamefusa charged vertically, the ball was spread to the left, passing to Fukuda, Lee, Lawrence, and Green. Green passed to Riley, despite being hit by a tackler.
Riley passed to Fakatava waiting outside, who charged into the try zone (Lee's goal made it 24-10).
After the restart, Warner caught the kickoff, broke through the crowd, and broke through the halfway line. Japan moved to the right and Lawrence delivered a long kick into the right 22m of the opponent's half. Canada's knock forward gave Japan the scrum on the right side of the Canadian goal, and Japan launched a series of attacks. After Green and Ralatubua charged forward, the ball spread to the right.
Finally, seven passes were completed: Lee, Riley, Lawrence, Nagata, Ishida, Gunter, and Green. Finally, Gree dove into the right corner (Lee's goal missed, making the score 29-10). Japan completely swung the momentum back to Japan. After a water break, in the 63rd minute, No. 8 Fakatava was replaced by No. 20 Maxi. With Canada seemingly tiring, Japan gained momentum and launched a bold offensive attack. After Riley and Lawrence charged forward, Lee kicked a punt to the left of the Canadian goal.
Canada's No. 9 Higgins caught the punt and Japan's No. 20 Maxi tackled him, pushing him out. In the 65th minute, Japan pushed a maul from a lineout in front of the left Canadian goal, storming into the try zone (Gunter scored a try, and Lee's goal was successful, making the score 36-10). In the 65th minute, No. 6 Sato replaced No. 2 Era (Sato's first cap). In the 68th minute, No. 7 Shimokawa was replaced by No. 19 Costley. In the 70th minute, No. 13 Riley was replaced by No. 22 Hirose (Hirose's first cap).
Japan steadily stopped Canada's attacking attacks with strong tackles and entered the Canadian half. In the 73rd minute, from a lineout just beyond the Canadian right 10-meter line, Japan spread left, and after Hirose and Maxi made a vertical charge, they spread left as well. They passed the ball to Lawrence, Green, and Osada, and Osada, unmarked, ran into the try zone (Lee's goal made it 43-10).
Riding the momentum, Japan fended off Canada's attacking attacks with strong tackles and earned a penalty kick after Gunter stole the ball. Lee kicked the ball to touch, and from a lineout 10 meters to the right of the Canadian goal, thrower No. 16 Sato received the pass, opened up wide, and crossed to Ishida, who received the pass and dashed into the try zone (Lee's goal made it 50-10). After the restart, a Japanese obstruction earned Canada a lineout 5 meters in front of the Japanese goal. They formed a powerful maul, and No. 16 McKail found the space and dove into the try zone to score a 50-17 (Nelson's goal). After the restart, Japan continued their offensive, but Japan responded with tackles, but the TMO ruled it a high tackle by Canada. Japan earned a lineout 10 meters to the left of the Canadian goal with a touch kick, and then moved to the right, with Hirose charging vertically. They continued their offensive with successive attacks, and after Sato's charge, Ishida dove into the try zone (Lee's goal made it 57-17) to make it full time.
The first half was a shaky one, with dropping the ball on chances and defensive positioning being called offside repeatedly, which made it seem like the game was going to end badly, but the team recovered well in the second half, with young players, including some making their first caps, playing a key role and scoring a ton of points. In their next match against the USA, we hope to see the team reduce mistakes and fouls and win with aggressive attacks.