Japan whitewash limp Uruguay
The Brave Blossoms remained in control throughout the match at the Chichibunomiya Stadium, managing six tries in all.
Fullback Ayumu Goromaru put Japan ahead with the first try in the 12th minute.
Three minutes later the team showed off their swift passing to break through the Uruguay defence, sending Kosei Ono to score another try to extend the lead.
In the 25th minute, flank Michael Broadhurst sprinted deep into the left for the third try.
In the second half Japan added three more tries – by Kotaro Matsushima in the 44th minute, Hendrik Tui in the 50th minute and Kenki Fukuoka in the 66th minute.
The victory followed a 30-8 win against Uruguay last Sunday, and gave the team a much needed morale boost as they prepare to face two-time champions South Africa in their World Cup opener.
Japan have dominated the Asian scene for a long time, but they will have to ditch their emotional baggage if they are to achieve their bold target of reaching the World Cup quarterfinals.
Coach Eddie Jones will take the Brave Blossoms to the World Cup in England next month, where Japan will tackle South Africa, Samoa, Scotland and the United States in a tough Pool B.
Japan have consistently fallen short on the big stage, their only World Cup win coming against Zimbabwe in 1991.
Man of the match: Ayumu Goromaru was in great form with the boot and scored the opening try, and was by far the best player on display.
Moment of the match: The opening try by Goromaru opened the flood-gates for a Japanese whitewash.
Villain of the match: Agustin Ormaechea and Juan Gaminara both received a yellow card and they are this week's villains.
The scorers:
For Japan:
Tries: Goromaru, Ono, Broadhurst, Matsushima, Tui, Fukuoka
Cons: Goromaru 5
For Uruguay:
None
Yellow cards: Agustin Ormaechea (Uruguay), Juan Gaminara (Uruguay)
Teams:
Japan: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Male Sau, 12 Craig Wing, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Kosei Ono, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Hendrik Tui, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Michael Leitch (captain), 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hateyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Masataka Mikami.
Replacements: 16 Takayuki Watanabe, 17 Takeshi Kizu, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Shinya Makabe, 20 Hayden Hopgood, 21 Atsushi Hiwasa, 22 Harumichi Tatekawa, 23 Karne Hesketh.
Uruguay: 15 Gastón Mieres, 14 Leandro Leivas, 13 Joaquín Prada, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 11 Santiago Gibernau, 10 Felipe Berchesi, 9 Agustin Ormaechea, 8 Alejandro Nieto, 7 Diego Magno, 6 Juan Gaminara, 5 Jorge Zerbino, 4 Santiago Vilaseca (captain), 3 Mario Sagario, 2 Carlos Arboleya, 1 Alejo Corral.
Replacements: 16 German Kessler, 17 Oscar Durán, 18 Mateo Sanguinetti, 19 Mathias Palomeque, 20 Matias Beer, 21 Juan de Freitas, 22 Alejo Durán, 23 Alberto Roman.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
