Japan back in play-off hunt

With just one game remaining – and an eight-day turnaround till they face the United States next Sunday – Japan are in with a real chance of finishing ahead of either South Africa  or Scotland in the Pool B standings.

Samoa's discipline was shocking, to say the least – being reduce to 13 men inside the first quarter, through yellow cards to Faifili Levave (for a reckless late no-arms, shoulder charge) and Sakaria Taulafo (for tackling a man in the air).

And in the final five minutes they were again a man down, Teofilo Paulo sent to the sin bin for cynical play, a professional foul when he took the scrumhalf out.

Captain Ofisa Treviranus lost control of his team, despite numerous warnings from the referee about repeat infringements and off-the-ball incidents.

In contrast Japan were all control and patience, as their high-energy game found plenty of holes in the Samoan defence.

The Cherry Blossoms also dominated possession and territory, through their superior set pieces – with as much as 70 percent of the possession going their way.

Then there was the famous ankle-tackling style of the Japanese, who frustrated the Samoans as much as it did South Africa in the opening round.

Ayumu Goromaru scored 16 points to keep Japan in the race for a historic appearance in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals.

The 29-year-old, who starred in the epic win over South Africa two weeks ago, became the leading tournament points scorer with 45.

The Japanese also scored two tries, a penalty try and one from wing Akihito Yamada.

Goromaru looked to have given Japan a dream start as he went over in the left hand corner, but linesman Wayne Barnes signalled for a forward pass leaving coach Eddie Jones fuming.

South Africa referee Craig Joubert, who had been playing an advantage anyway, awarded the Japanese a penalty instead and Goromaru shrugged off the disappointment to slot over the penalty.

Samoa were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes when No.8 Faifili Levave was sin-binned for a late shoulder charge – making no attempt to tackle hooker Shota Horie simply bending his shoulder into the Japanese player and sending him flying.

Joubert read the riot act to Samoan captain Ofisa Treviranus about conceding penalties and the South African wielded another yellow card when prop Sakaria Taulafo took out a Japanese player in the air – leaving the Samoans with just 13 men on the pitch.

The Pacific islanders defended stoically as the Japanese pounded away at them.

The Asian champions eventually came away with a penalty try which Goromaru converted for 10-0 after 24 minutes.

Goromaru added another three points as a result of a Samoan going offside to make it 13-0 against a ragged opponent who were in danger of being out of the game by half-time.

Indeed they were as Akihito Yamada did a good impression of a spinning top completely fooling Alesana Tuilagi and went in in the far right hand corner after good work by the pack for his fifth try in five Tests this year.

Goromaru – whose points tally took him past South African Morné Steyn on the all-time Test scorers – made the half-time cup of tea taste even sweeter as he converted brilliantly from the touchline for 20-0.

The Japanese fullback added another three points to make it 23-0 early in the second-half

Japan skipper Michael Leitch pulled off a try-saving tackle seconds later, as Samoa finally put together an incisive move, bringing down scrumhalf Kahn Fotuali'i.

Yamada's day ended prematurely as his brave effort at tackling Paul Perez ended with him knocked out on the pitch.

It did not distract the Japanese from their gameplan with Goromaru converting another penalty for 26-0.

Finally, though, the Samoans put a thrilling and fluent passing move together ending in Perez going over in the far left hand corner.

Tusi Pisi's conversion hit the post to leave Japan leading 26-5 and the 'Brave Blossoms' comfortably saw out the rest of the game for another superb win.

Man of the match: No Samoans worth mentioning as heroes, especially not with their appetite for off-the-ball antics. Japan fullback Ayumu Goromaru made another valuable contribution with the boot. Captain Michael Leitch was also everywhere, putting his body on the line and No.8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani was not far behind. In fact almost every Japanese player is worth considering. However, our award goes to veteran Japan lock Luke Thompson – for his immense workrate and all round classy game.

Moment of the match: It goes to the Akihito Yamada try right on the stroke of half-time – when he showed up the much bigger Alesana Tuilagi, with a step, swivel and acceleration dive which displayed just how poor Tuilagi is when he can't bully smaller guys or resort to foul play.

Villain of the match: Samoa's lack of discipline again came back to haunt them and Faifili Levave was the epitome of this shocking display with his foul play – a late no-arms, shoulder charge inside the first quarter. How often don't we see this type of off-the-ball antic that gives the appearance of simply trying to injure the opposition.

The scorers:

For Japan:

Tries: Penalty try, Yamada

Cons: Goromaru 2

Pens: Goromaru 4

For Samoa:

Try: Perez

Yellow card: Faifili Levave (Samoa, 16 – foul play, late shoulder charge), Sakaria Taulafo (Samoa, 19 – foul play, tackling a man in the air), Teofilo Paulo (Samoa, 77 – professional foul, cynically taking out the scrumhalf)

Teams:

Japan: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Akihito Yamada, 13 Male Sau, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Kotaro Matsushima, 10 Kosei Ono, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Michael Leitch (captain), 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki.  

Replacements: 16 Takeshi Kizu, 17 Masataka Mikami, 18  Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Justin Ives, 20 Amanaki Mafi, 21 Hendrik Tui, 22 Atsushi Hiwasa, 23 Karne Hesketh.

Samoa: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams; 14 Ken Pisi, 13 Paul Perez, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Faifili Levave, 7 TJ Ioane, 6 Ofisa Treviranus (captain), 5 Kane Thompson, 4 Teofilo Paulo, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Ole Avei, 1 Sakaria Taulafo.

Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Viliamu Afatia, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Jack Lam, 20 Vavae Tuilagi, 21 Vavao Afemai, 22 Mike Stanley, 23 Rey Lee-Lo.

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Stuart Berry (South Africa)

TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)