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:
79 min: Japan 31-19
Japan with a late line-out down in the Samoan corner. They're pushing for the bonus point here as every man and his dog joins the rolling maul. Thrilling, pulsating, absorbing scenes here in Toyota as the home crowd roars their team on, sucking them towards the white line.
80 min: Japan 31-19
The referee's whistle goes. The Samoans have the put-in at the scrum. But it's irrelevant as the gong sounds for full-time.
81 min: Japan 31-19
Samoa win the scrum... and opt to go for another push! That means Japan still have the opportunity to get the bonus point. Irish and Scottish fans melting right now. "Why didn't they just kick it out?"
83 min: Japan 31-19
Crikey. Japan have forced the turnover from the scrum and now it's their turn to feed play.
That's Jack Lam, who made the decision to initially scrum again, off the Christmas card list.
84 min: Japan 31-19
The Brave Blossoms crackle with power. Samoa are helpless. They're slowly pushed back... but the referee pulls up play. Japan to go again!
TRY! Japan have done it. There's the bonus point!
Someone stick a fork in me. I'm done.
FULL-TIME: Japan 38-19 (Matsushima try, Tamura conversion)
I mean, wow. A late, late show of courage and strength is justly rewarded, with Kotaro Matsushima barging over following the fine efforts of his forwards.
From the scrum, Japan sucked in as many blue shirts as possible before whizzing it out left to the waiting wing to power his way through the remaining Samoan defenders.
Yu Tamura with the extras, his effort bouncing off the posts and over.
Full-time!
FULL-TIME: Japan 38-19
That's three from three. 14 points. And now a quarter-final berth within reaching distance. Phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal. Japan weren't perfect this evening but that didn't stop them from eventually blowing away their opponents with another display built upon an abundance of courage, self-belief and iron resilience - with a firm helping hand from the riotous home crowd. Scotland, you've be warned.
FULL-TIME: Japan 38-19
Japan's players going to each four stands to make their thanks, bowing as they go. The stadium here is still packed to the rafters. The crowds making the most of yet another iconic evening on home soil.
Jamie Joseph is keeping grounded. He's just been asked if he's going to start looking forward to the knockout stages. "No, it's game by game," he said. "Our focus is on Scotland, to go and win that match. We'll enjoy this one and then prepare for what's going to be a tough game."
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