Japan vs Samoa, Rugby World Cup 2019: Result and reaction
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Your support makes all the difference.Kotaro Matsushima scored a bonus-point try deep into injury time as Japan moved to the brink of their first Rugby World Cup quarter-final with a 38-19 Pool A victory over Samoa.
The hosts, who turned the tournament upside down when they beat Ireland last week, moved to the top of the pool with 14 points and also secured their third victory in the pool phase for the second successive World Cup.
The loss ended the Pacific Islanders’ chances of their first place in the knockout phase since 1995, although the grouping is not likely to be decided until Japan play Scotland in Yokohama in the last game of the pool phase on 13 October. Re-live action below:
8 min: Japan 3-0 Samoa
Samoa's clearance doesn't get far. They clear from their own dead ball area but the kicked ball sails out for a Japan line-out on the five-metre line.
The throw-in is clean as a whistle and it's not long before the ref's whistle goes up for another penalty against the Pacific Islanders. Yu Tamura with the chance to double his side's lead.
9 min: Japan 6-0 Samoa (Tamura penalty)
A tighter angle but Yu Tamura's effort is spot on. Japan pull ahead.
10 min: Japan 6-3 Samoa (Taefu penalty)
Japan concede a penalty off the restart. Samoa immediately point to the posts. Henry Taefu steps up and does the rest. Both teams on the scoreboard. Away we go.
13 min: Japan 6-3 Samoa
Samoa scrum a metre out from their own 22. On the second attempt, Japan put in a huge shunt but it's done so illegally as the two packs mash together to form a heap of bodies on the turf. The men in blue find touch deep inside their opponent's half. We go forward for a Samoa line-out.
13 min: Japan 6-3 Samoa
Speculative drop-kick effort from Henry Taefu on a Samoan advantage. It's wide, well wide. And about 12 metres short. Not to worry, we go back to the original penalty and the centre gets a proper shot at the sticks.
14 min: Japan 6-6 Samoa (Taefu penalty)
Two out of two for Henry Taefu. 6-6. Game on.
17 min: Japan 6-6 Samoa
Kotaro Matsushima springs into life over on the right flank, zipping his way inward and through the Samoan defence with a stunning surge of pace. He's brought down, but with the men in blue scrambling to recover, Yu Tamura looks to exploit the space on the opposite side of the pitch with a weighted kick. There's just a bit too much on it, though, the ball bouncing out for a Samoa line-out.
19 min: Japan 6-6 Samoa
Samoa put their superior firepower to good use with a penetrative rolling maul that cuts straight through the heart of the Japanese defence, making a good 15 metres or so. A sense of panic rises up from the home crowd but the Brave Blossoms manage to steal possession before any real danger is done. The ball is booted clear from inside their own 22.
21 min: Japan 6-6 Samoa
Lomano Lemeki with another storming run, this time cutting into the heart of the Samoan defence. Japan are quick to recycle but a well-timed interception from Tim Nanai-Williams, just a few metres out from his white line, brings that attack to an end.
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