Japan Continues Winning Ways vs Georgia

Rugby World Cup 2019 hosts Japan made it three in a row today as the Asian champions completed a hard-fought 13-10 win over Georgia in Gloucester. Amanaki Lelei Mafi was the hero as the replacement prop went over two minutes from full time to put Japan in front for the first time in the second half.

Japan’s world class goal kicker Ayumu Goromaru opened the scoring with an early penalty. Georgia, though, responded through right winger Muraz Giorgadze who went over in the corner for the game’s opening try. Lasha Malaguradze landed the conversion to make it 7-3 after 15 minutes and Georgia would not lose the lead until Amanaki Lelei Mafi’s score.

Goromaru scored next in the low-scoring game with the fullback making up for a missed penalty to add his second of the afternoon and make it a 7-6 scoreline after 26 minutes.

The score remained this way until well into the second half. Japan, nonetheless, looked like having scored through Kotaro Matsushima who raced down the touch down after Japan regathered a Georgian fumble. With the referee disallowing the score remained 7-6 after 60 minutes.

The opening points of the second half finally came with Lasha Malaguradze landing a long range penalty to extend Georgia’s lead to 10-6 and all appeared over for the Asians. A late drive from Amanaki Lelei Mafi secured a memorable victory. The 13-10 win follows on from the recent two match series triumph over Uruguay.

Japan will play in the same group as the USA Eagles, Pool B. Completing the pool are Samoa, Scotland and favorites South Africa. Georgia, meanwhile, will have to face the might of New Zealand in addition to Argentina, Namibia and Tonga. Both Japan and Georgia are aiming for two wins or more.

Both Japan and Georgia will open their World Cup campaigns on day two of the World Cup. Japan will face South Africa in Brighton while Georgia will take-on Tonga in Exeter.

Scorers
Georgia
Try: Giorgadze
Conversion: Kvirikashvili
Penalty: Malaguradze
Yellow Card: Koelishvili

Japan
Try: Mafi
Conversion: Goromaru
Penalties: Goromaru (2)
Yellow Card: Horie

Georgia
15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Muraz Giorgadze, 13 Davit Kacharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze, 11 Giorgi Aptsiauri, 10 Lasha Malaguradze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Mamuka Gorgodze (Captain), 7 Victor Kolelishvili, 6 Shalva Sutiashvili, 5 Konstantine Mikautadze, 4 Giorgi Nemsadze, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili

16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Davit Kubriashvili, 18 Levan Chilachava, 19 Levan Datunashvili, 20 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 21 Giorgi Begadze, 22 Tamaz Mchedlidze, 23 Giorgi Pruidze

Japan
15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Yoshikazu Fujita, 13 Male Sau, 12 Craig Wing, 11 Hendrik Tui, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryo Holani, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Mastaka Mikami

16 Takayuki Watanabe, 17 Takeshi Kizu, 18 Kensuke Hatekeyama, 19 Shinya Makabe, 20 Amanaki Mafi, 21 Atsushi Hiwasa, 22 Kosei Ono, 23 Kotaro Matsushima