Oz 'A' sweep Japan aside
Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:33
Australia 'A' beat Japan 42-21 in their Pacific Nations Cup match in Fukuoka on Sunday.
The Aussies ran in four tries in a dominant opening half to secure victory, before the Japanese rallied in the second stanza, scoring two tries to narrow the full-time margin.
In all the Aussies ran in six tries, including a brace to Brumbies lock Peter Kimlin, with other tries to Van Humphries, Mark Gerrard, Morgan Turinui and Sam Norton-Knight capped off an impressive hit-out for coach Phil Mooney's team.
Australia 'A' next play Samoa in Apia on Sunday, 15 June.
Japan opened the scoring with an early drop-goal, but the lead lasted only until the 15th minute when Sam Norton-Knight broke through in midfield and found Turinui on his outside to score the Australian’s first try. Gerrard converted for a 7-3 lead.
The Aussies then extended their lead with a superb team try that began with a diving short pass from Timana Tahu to Turinui who found Gerrard unmarked on the wing to score.
Japan were fortunate not to go further behind only minutes later when Matt Carraro was ruled to have crossed the touchline before grounding the ball and Kimlin had a try disallowed for a knock-on.
Although the Brumbies player was not to be denied a try on his debut and showed great pace to run on to Norton-Knight's short ball and streak away for his teams third score.
The visitors wrapped up the points right on half-time after Kimlin broke through and found fellow lock Van Humphries, who had just enough pace to dive over. Gerrard converted from the sideline for a 28-3 half-time lead.
The hosts again opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty goal in the 42nd minute, before Norton-Knight showed good skills to charge-down a clearing kick and regather to score under the posts.
Another Japanese penalty reduced the score to 35-9, and the Australians found themselves down to 13 men when Guy Shepherdson and Julian Salvi were sin binned within minutes of each other.
The loss of two players, as well as fatigue from two days of traveling, showed on the Australian forwards who were unable to prevent replacement Tomochi Tanuguchi from scoring off a driving maul in 61st minute.
Tanuguchi then made it two tries in two minutes and the hosts suddenly found themselves in with a chance at 35-21 against tiring opposition with 15 minutes remaining.
However, a slick backline move featuring winger Francis Fainfo found the ball reach Kimlin who only had to dive over for his second try. Gerrard again added the extras to seal a flawless goal kicking display and a 42-21 victory.
The scorers:
For Japan:
Tries: Taniguchi 2
Cons: Arlidge
Pens: Arlidge 3
For Australia A:
Tries: Kimlin 2,
Humphries, Turinui, Gerrard, Norton-Knight
Cons: Gerrard 6
Yellow cards: Guy Shepherdson (Australia), Julian Salvi (Australia)
The teams:
Japan: 15 Shaun Webb, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Yuta Imarua, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Takuro Miuchi, 7 Hare Makiri, 6 Ryu Koliniaisi Holani, 5 Toshizuma Kitagawa, 4 Hitoshi Ono, 3 Tomokazu Soma, 2 Yusuke Aoki, 1 Tatsukichi Nishiura.
Replacements: 16 Taku Inokuchi, 17 Yuta Inose, 18 Tomoaki Taniguchi, 19 Takashi Kikutani, 20 Tomoki Yoshida, 21 Bryce Robins, 22 Christian Loamanu.
Australia A: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Matt Carraro, 13 Morgan Turinui (captain), 12 Timana Tahu, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Ben Lucas, 9 Josh Holmes, 8 Julian Salvi, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Mitch Chapman, 5 Peter Kimlin, 4 Van Humphries, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Sean Hardman, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Tai McIsaac, 17 Salesi Ma'afu, 18 Al Campbell, 19 Poutasi Luafutu, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Tyrone Smith, 22 Sam Norton-Knight.
Referee: Willie Roos (South Africa)
