By Nick Powell, Online Editor
Japan……………………………………………28
Tries: Labuschagne 13, Leitch 32, Himeno 49
Conversions: Matsuda 15, 33
Penalties: Matsuda 28, 56, 75
Samoa…………………………………………..22
Tries: S Lam 38, Paia’aua 65, Leali’ifano 78
Conversions: Leali’ifano 66, 79
Penalties: Leuila 25
Japan set up a winner-takes-all clash for World Cup progression with Argentina as they held off a late fightback to beat Samoa.
The Brave Blossoms’ victory also sent England through as the second team to progress into the quarter-finals.
Japan dominated the first hour as all three of their back row: Pieter Labuschagne, Michael Leitch and Kazuki Himeno crossed while all staring in open play.
Samoa facing a hiding at 25-8 down having only scored through Seilala Lam, with his brother Ben sent off to set up a gruelling finish.
But they showed huge spirit in the final quarter as Duncan Paia’aua and Christian Leali’ifano crossed, with Japan kicking a penalty instead of chasing a fourth-try bonus as they were given a late scare.
After Samoa’s D’Angelo Leuila went narrowly short with a 59 metre penalty attempt early on, Labuschagne opened Japan’s scoring from close range following an excellent break from full-back and eventual star man Lomano Lemeki off a scrum.
Samoa had their fair share of attacking opportunities in the early stages, and finally got on the board in the 25th minute as new Leuila knocked over a much more straightforward shot at goal than his first.
But Samoa’s good work in attack was almost immediately undone as Lam went off his feet and Rikiya Matsuda returned the gap to seven points.
Shortly after the continuously dangerous Lemeki again carried hard into the 22 after Japan went through the backs off their scrum, and it would again lead to a try as Matsuda brilliantly found veteran Michael Leitch with a misspass for the Brave Blossoms’ second.
With their scrum-half Jonathan Taumateine yellow carded for a push off the ball in the build-up to that try, Samoa were facing a challenging final 10 minutes of the half, but they went back on the attack and hooker Shota Horie was sent to the TMO bunker for Japan as he failed to dip in a head-clash tackle.
And his opposite number Lam was on hand to score from the back of a maul just before half-time to cut the gap to 17-8.
The early stages of the second period would be key, and Ben Lam went high and was sent to the bunker in an early blow for Samoa, shortly after Horie had returned without further punishment.
With skipper Kazuki Himeno scoring from another maul, and Lam’s yellow upgraded to the red, Samoa faced a mountain to climb in the last half hour, made steeper by another Matsuda penalty.
They continued to attack and defend with great spirit, and were rewarded as Duncan Paia’aua scored in the corner after powerful and cohesive build up play, before Leali’ifano followed another Matsuda penalty with a try in between his two conversions.
Japan stole a late lineout to secure the victory though, but they may yet regret missing out on a try bonus point against Samoa’s battling 14 men.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Attendance: 31,298
Star Man: Lomano Lemeki (Japan)
JAPAN: Lemeki 9, Matsushima 8, Riley 7, Nakamura 6 (Osada 75), Naikabula 6 (Sakate 41-47) , Matsuda 7 (Lee 76), Saito 7 (Fukuda 75); Inagaki 8 (Millar 47, 6), Horie 7 (Sakate 58, 6), Gu 7 (Ai Valu 47, 7) Cornelsen 7 (Dearns 63, 6), Fakatava 7, Leitch 9 (Shimokawa 75), Labuschagne 8 (Dearns 48-58), Himeno 8.
SAMOA: Paia’aua 8, Fidow 5 (Fomai 73), Manu 8, Leuila 6 (Toala 33, 7), Lam 7, Leali’ifano 7, Taumateine 5 (Matavao 58, 5); Ja Lay 7 (Jo Lay 51, 6), Lam 5 (Malolo 51, 7), Alo-Emile 7 (Alaalatoa 51, 7), Luatua 6, McFarland 8, Seu (Alainu’uese 5, 7), Lee 8, Taufua 7 (Motuga 58, 7).
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