Japan vs Samoa, Rugby World Cup 2019: Result and reaction
Re-live all the action from Toyota
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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:
47 min: Japan 16-12 Samoa
No sooner had I clicked enter on that last post that the referee's arm goes up for another penalty - this time against Samoa.
Yu Tamura had geared up to kick for touch but Pieter Labuschagne pointed instead to the points. A big ask, this. The 10 is a few metres out from the right-hand side touchline, a good distance back. The pressure is on.
47 min: Japan 16-12 Samoa
It wasn't to be. The fly-half's strike sails wide. His first missed kick of the evening.
50 min: Japan 16-12 Samoa
Up goes the box-kick from Yutaka Nagare. Japan keeping their opponents pegged back in their own half way as Samoa desperately bid to break free.
51 min: Japan 16-12 Samoa
Penalty to Japan! This time it's certainly kickable. Samoa are pinged for not releasing. That's eight penalties each for the two teams.
52 min: Japan 19-12 Samoa (Tamura penalty)
A sigh of relief from the crowd as the ball, struck cleanly and straight from Yu Tamura, tumbles between the posts. Japan restore their seven-point lead.
55 min: Japan 19-12 Samoa
That's more like it from Japan. The hosts have their opponents on a string, pulling them back and forth across the turf with some fizzing, slick rugby. Yu Tamura eventually seizes his opportunity, slotting through a grubber kick that bounces menacingly for Ah See Tuala who can only manage to take it into touch as a means to stop the Brave Blossoms scoring. Line-out for Japan.
55 min: Japan 26-12 Samoa (Kazuki Himeno, Tamura conversion)
Just what the doctor ordered. A superb team effort from the line-out!
Japan immediately form a rolling maul off the throw that completely blows the Samoans away. From 15 metres or so out, it surged forward, stomping over the Pacific Islanders who were helpless to stop the Japanese engine before Kazuki Himeno grounded the ball.
Up goes the crowds. A hugely important score. Yu Tamura with the extras.
58 min: Japan 26-12 Samoa
Samoa immediately hit back with a break and are rewarded for their efforts with a scrum five metres out from Japan's posts.
60 min: Japan 26-12 Samoa
Penalty to Japan! After a haphazard scrum, Japan dig deep, turn the screw and batter the Samoans with a ferocious display of physicality that completely catches out Steve Jackson's men. Jiwon Koo makes the turnover at the breakdown. Samoa penalised for not releasing. That could be a game-winning moment right there.
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