Japan, Tonga win at JWC
Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:02
Japan avoided coming last at the Junior World Championship and did so in style with a 44-8 victory over the United States in the 15th/16th place battle.
In Saturday's other match, Tonga won the Battle of the Islands.
Japan vs United States, 44-8
Japan finished the tournament on a high with a six-try performance that earned them a 15th-place finish and also provided an ideal platform to launch their campaign as hosts for the IRB Junior World Championship 2009.
The Japanese started brightly at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham on Saturday, with flyhalf Shingo Yoshida’s kicking testing the USA defence in a match both sides were keen to win to secure a first victory in the inaugural tournament.
Despite having captain Michael Leitch sent to the sin bin in the seventh minute, Japan were rewarded for their attacking approach when inside centre Aisea Havea scored an excellent solo try, converted by scrum half Shuhei Oshima.
A second try was not far behind, outside centre Yasutaka Sasakura capping a well-worked move to make the score 12-0 in the 16th minute, with Oshima converting to add the extras.
Scrum half Sean Treacy reduced the deficit with a penalty for the young Eagles, but Japan were soon back in control, wing Jamie Blackie crossing for their third try on 34 minutes after the Japanese had stolen a scrummage with a powerful drive. Japan entered the interval with a 19-3 lead after a failed conversion attempt.
After the restart, Oshima added a penalty and Yoshida kicked a drop goal to increase their lead to 25-3.
A superb cross-kick from man of the match Oshima then allowed right wing Takamasa Okubo to score Japan’s fourth try, which Oshima converted.
USA scored a consolation try through inside centre Nate Ebner in the 79th minute, but Japan were not finished yet, responding with an unconverted try from second row Keisuke Matsuda.
Japan’s final score came via fullback Daisuke Natsui, who finished off a move started in their own 22 that showed excellent handling and vision from their backline.
Replacement Ryohei Yamanaka added the conversion to complete a resounding victory.
Japan captain Michael Leitch said afterwazds: “We’re delighted with the win. The tournament has been a huge experience for us and shows the standard of the top-class countries, which we aspire to.”
USA Head Coach Salty Thompson said: “This is the best age-grade group out of the USA and we have tried to build on last year’s tournament in Belfast. There was some fatigue out there and unfortunate injuries that affected our performance. Japan played a well-structured game and great credit goes to them for their great display. We have had a fantastic time in north Wales.”
USA Captain Scott Lavalla said: “The boys were tired after a long tournament and we now know what top-notch rugby is and competing against top-class opposition. We know we have a lot of work to do to ensure we qualify for next year’s tournament, which obviously we want to do.
"I would like to express my thanks for the tremendous welcome we have received in north Wales. We have made many friends and the hospitality has been excellent.”
Scorers:
For Japan:
Tries: Havea, Sasakura, Blackie, Okubo, Matsuda, Natsui
Cons: Oshima 3, Yamanaka
Pen: Oshima
Drop: Yoshida
For USA:
Try: Ebner
Pen: Treacy
Japan: 15 Daisuke Natsui, 14 Takamasa Okubo, 13 Yasutaka Sasakura, 12 Aisea Havea, 11 Jamie Blackie, 10
Shingo Yoshida, 9 Shuhei Oshima, 8 Michael Leitch (captain), 7 Shohei Maekawa, 6 Hiroaki Sugimoto, 5 Eiri Nakada, 4 Keisuke Matsuda, 3 Keiichi Tanaka, 2 Motoki Yamazaki, 1 Masataka Mikami
Replacements: 16 Shinsuke Ono, 17 Ryuhei Arita, 18 Pohiva Lotoahea, 19 Tsuyoshi Murata, 20 Mizuki Yanagihara, 21 Ryohei Yamanaka, 22 Katsuyuki Sakai
USA: 15 Gareth Jones, 14 Adam Ducoing, 13 Thretton Palamo, 12 Nate Ebner, 11 Zach Test, 10 Tyler Siceloff, 9 Sean Treacy, 8 Taylor Mokate, 7 Austin Cella, 6 Liam Murphy, 5 Scott Lavalla (captain), 4 Kevin Erskine, 3 Ryan Fitcher 2 Bill Wynne, 1 Stevie Johnston
Replacements: Replacements: 16 Shawn Pittman, 17 Maxime Paganini, 18 Teddy Barron, 19 Scott Metcalf, 20 Barry Sheehan, 21 Steven Sablan, 22 Jack Tracy
Referee: James Bolabiu (Fiji)
Touch judges: Robin Goodliffe (England), Andrea Pasquin (Italy)
Assessor: Tappe Henning (IRB)
Tonga vs Fiji, 28-20
Tonga came out on the top in the all-Pacific encounter, beating Fiji 28-20 in a back and forth encounter at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham to claim 13th place at the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship on Saturday.
The Tongans, who came into the tournament as the number Replacements: 16 seeds, were the first to score, Sotele Hehea starting and finishing a move that saw the second row touch down in the corner after only five minutes, though flyhalf Sione Toke was unable to convert the score from wide.
However, Fijian dominance in the forwards gave them a steady stream of penalties with flyhalf Sakiusa Malai Bulivakarua hitting the target twice in the opening 20 minutes of the match
to give his side a 6-5 lead.
Not to be outdone, Tonga regained their lead with a penalty from Toke, followed by a superb weaving try for wing Mateo Malupo, giving the Tongans a 13-6 half-time advantage.
Fiji emerged for the second half full of fire and subjected Tonga to 10 minutes of unrelenting pressure on their try-line, but found the Tongan defence unwavering and Malupo then capped a man of the match performance with a sizzling run, allowing centre William Takai to cross for Tonga’s third try of the match in the 55th minute.
Tonga’s 18-6 lead was further extended just past the hour mark with a converted try for Toke, who marshalled his side well throughout a match involving two sides looking to end the tournament on a high.
With less than 20 minutes remaining, Fiji’s hopes of victory looked faint, but their hard work was rewarded in the 74th minute when wing
Patemio Kocoturaga scored in the corner, Bulivakarua converting to reduce the deficit to 25-13.
Any hopes of a late comeback were dashed, however, when Toke added a further penalty to his tally, presenting the Fijians with an insurmountable challenge.
Yet despite this, Fiji never gave in, flank Uraia Verenadavui scoring a final try for the islanders, leaving a final score of 28-20 in Tonga’s favour after Bulivakarua’s conversion.
Tonga's captain Constantin Kauvaka said afterwards: “It is always great to play against Fiji and it was an enjoyable game. Both teams worked hard and despite losing out up front in the first half we were still going strong at the end of the match.”
Fiji Captain Jese Cirikisuva: “It is always a hard game against Tonga, but although they won, we had the consolation of scoring a great try at the end of the
game.”
Scorers:
For Tonga:
Tries: Hehea, Malupo, Takai, Toke
Con: Toke
Pens: Toke 2
For Fiji:
Tries: Kocoturaga, Verenadavui
Cons: Bulivakarua 2
Pens: Bulivakarua 2
Tonga: 15 Salesi Sete, 14 Charles Mateo, 13 William Takai, 12 Mahe Fangupo, 11 Mateo Malupo, 10 Sione Toke, 9 Sekope Maea, 8 Constantin Kauvaka (captain), 7 Inoke Taufa, 6 Paula Kata, 5 Finau Tupa, 4 Sotele Hehea, 3 Maleko Latu, 2 Tone Tukufuka, 1 Mosa'ati Afu
Replacements: 16 Tevita Moliteka, 17 Lonely Kengike, 18 Tevita Tangi, 19 Haloti Molitika, 20 Samiuela Vea, 21 John Hausia, 22 Alfred Hausia
Fiji: 15 William Saukuru, 14 Patemio Kocoturaga, 13 Isikeli Vuruna, 12 Eroni Tara, 11 Wiliame Umu, 10 Sakiusa Malai Bulivakarua, 9 Anare Vakawaletabua, 8 Samuela
Vunisa, 7 Jese Cirikisuva (captain), 6 Uraia Verenadavui, 5 Tevita Tuiloa, 4 Temo Vakaloloma, 3 Jack Lalai, 2 Saula Qalomai, 1 Serupepeli Qaranivalu
Replacements: 16 Seru Cakobau, 17 Saulo Romumu, 18 Waqabaca Kotobalavu, 19 Unaloto Ofa, 20 Alex Rokobaro, 21 Peni Rokodiva, 22 John Stewart
Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan)
Touch judges: Robin Goodliffe (England), Andrea Pasquin (Italy)
Assessor: Tappe Henning (IRB)
