For those who thought Japan were one-hit wonders, think again. This victory, while not as heroic as the sublime sinking of the Springboks, was hugely impressive in a different sense, moving qualification from Pool B to within touching distance for Eddie Jones’s side.
Samoa were ragged opponents, penalised for so many errors that Craig Joubert’s whistle seemed more prominent than those celebratory ones emanating from the crowd. But Japan produced a polished display from start to finish that, in the end, left the Pacific islanders bereft and broken.
The margin of victory was 21 points, and it would have been more were it not for a late break from Paul Perez, who secured Samoa’s only score. Instead, it was the boot of Ayumu Goromaru and the tenacity of Japan’s pack that prevailed, sprinkled with a touch of stardust from Akihito Yamada who finished a brilliant try on the stroke of half-time.
Samoa’s 17 errors – including three yellow cards – and lacklustre performance have put their place at the World Cup on the precipice. Stephen Betham, their coach, described this as a “do or die” game beforehand, but his team failed to deliver. For Japan, though, the dream continues and the only regret was that they did not earn a bonus point. Jones said: “I thought our forwards were fantastic. We shut Samoa out of the game, our ruck in defence was absolutely first-class.
“Our dominance in that [scrum] area set the path for victory. We knew Samoa were a momentum team. Being able to control the set-piece against a team like Samoa puts you in a position to win the game.
“We still haven’t played as well as we can and that’s the disappointing thing. We probably left two tries out there. We’re looking to play our best game of the World Cup against the USA. If we’re good enough we’ll go through. If we win three games we’ll probably be the team of the tournament.”
Samoa barely had a sniff in the first-half. Betham’s side conceded nine penalties in 40 minutes – seven in their own half – and their indiscipline ultimately cost them dear, trailing 20-0 at half-time. Japan were consistently productive. They steadily increased the pressure, waited for the error and produced the telling blows at the decisive moments. Goromaru drifted one penalty attempt wide, but other than that they were faultless.
They almost started with a try inside six minutes, but Goromaru’s effort in the corner was ruled out following a forward pass from Male Sa’u. Goromaru was denied the try – correctly – but Joubert took the play back to a previous offside infringement, allowing Japan’s record points-scorer to convert a penalty from a central position and give his side the lead. Two Samoan’s – Faifili Levave and Sakaria Taulafo – were sent to the sin‑bin in quick succession, for a high and late tackle respectively. Taulafo’s was perhaps a harsh call, but Samoa were rattled and making needless, erratic errors.
Japan’s pressure told in the 24th minute with the opening try of the match. With a numerical advantage the Blossoms’ pack gradually edged their way to the opposition line and, when the Samoan pack crumbled from a scrum, Joubert lost his patience, awarding a penalty try that Goromaru easily converted under the posts.
In the dying moments of the half, and with Samoa on their haunches, Japan steadily switched the ball from left to right, their forwards making ground before the decisive play. The ball found its way to Yamada, who rode a bruising tackle and span expertly to dive at full stretch in at the corner.
It was a similar story at the start of the second-half, Tusi Pisi penalised for offside and gifting Japan another three points – Goromaru converting again.
Samoa did, at least, show some life after going 23-0 down, but when Paul Perez’s jink and burst of pace down the left wing was stopped just short of the line, they could not capitalise.
Betham said: “We came in with high hopes and unfortunately our discipline cost us. We struggled to get on the front foot after that. Japan played well and took their chances, we’re very disappointed. We talked about this [discipline] when we came to England and unfortunately it let us down. “It’s a pity Pacific islanders have fallen back. You let your guard down and you pay the price. Japan has caught up with the rest of the world. We have still one more game and we need to finish on a high if we can.”
Late on, Japan squandered possession when five metres from the opposition line. A swift break that had Perez at its start and end resulted in the winger going over in the corner for Samoa’s first score of the match. The conversion attempt rebounded off a post. But a late yellow card for Filo Paulo summed things up for Samoa on a day that Japan continued to win hearts and points.
SAMOA Nanai-Williams; K Pisi, Perez, Leota, A Tuilagi (Lee-Lo 48); Ti Pisi, Fotuali’I (Afemai 73); Taulafo (Afatia 62), Avei (Matu’u 55), Johnston (Perenise 51), Paulo, Thompson, Treviranus (capt; S Tuilagi 70), Ioane (Lam 48), Levave Sin-bin Levave 15, Taulafo 18, Paulo 77 Try Perez
JAPAN Goromaru; Yamada (Hesketh 56), Sau (Kizu 72), Tatekawa, Matsushima; K Ono, Tanaka (Hiwasa 72); Inagaki, Horie, Hatakeyama (Yamashita 65), Thompson, H Ono (Ives 40), Leitch (capt), Broadhurst (Tui 65), Holani (Mafi 59) Tries Penalty, Yamada Cons Goromaru 2 Pens Goromaru 4
Stadium MK 29,019
Game rating 7/10 Referee Craig Joubert (SA)
