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Japan wrapped up a perfect Pacific Nations Cup by defeating the USA 34-20 in Suva on Saturday. The victory gives the Brave Blossoms their first PNC title in over a decade, owing largely to their upset win over defending champions Fiji in the opening round.
The pace of the Japanese attack caused the USA problems but it was the technical accuracy of the pack that yielded the first try just three minutes into the game. Yu Tamura punished Eagles indiscipline with a picture-perfect kick to the corner and the lineout drive did the rest with captain Michael Leitch getting credit for the touchdown.
Tamura slotted the conversion and added a penalty, and the lead would stretch further soon after. AJ MacGinty’s cross-kick went out on the full, and from the lineout Japan attacked wide. Quick hands put Kotaro Matsushima around the corner and Kenki Fukuoka was there from the opposite wing to take the pass and sprint clear from 40 meters.
The Eagles finally got a reply four minutes later. MacGinty spotted a gap and slid between two defenders. The cover closed in but Madison Hughes was on hand to take the inside pass in under the sticks for a seven-pointer. Will Hooley stepped up for the extras as MacGinty received attention on an ankle sprain.
Hooley would land a penalty before MacGinty finally hobbled off just before the half, replaced by Will Magie. The USA immediately conceded a penalty, which Tamura calmly slotted, but from the restart the Brave Blossoms handed the points straight back with a penalty of their own giving Hooley another three.
A quick score in the second half proved the winning try. Taking a page from MacGinty’s book, Tamura attacked the line and put Ryo Yamanaka through with the fullback receiving the inside ball to race past the outstretched arms of the cover defense.
Another try before the hour mark put the result beyond doubt. Fukuoka and Yamanaka combined to speed around the outside on a counter-attack. Yutaka Nagare and Shota Horie were there in close support with Leitch taking the final offload in for a try. A brilliant solo effort from Fukuoka soon after was called back after the winger had stepped on the touchline.
To their credit, the Eagles stayed in the game. The scrum got the nudge-on and when the ball spilled out the back, Hanco Germishuys was on hand to regather and score. More pressure in the dying minutes nearly landed another but the Brave Blossoms held out and the final whistle sounded.
The USA now have just one match left on their pre-World Cup itinerary, a test against Canada in Vancouver on September 7. Japan will also rely on just one more tune up – the Springboks arriving early to play on September 6 in Kumagaya.
SCORING
USA 20
Tries – M. Hughes (16′), H. Germishuys (71′)
Cons – W. Hooley 2/2 (17′, 72′)
Pens – W. Hooley 2/2 (29′, 40′)
JAPAN 34
Tries – M. Leitch 2 (3′, 55′), K. Fukuoka (12′), R. Yamanaka (43′)
Cons – Y. Tamura 4/4 (4′, 13′, 44′, 56′)
Pens – Y. Tamura 2/2 (9′, 39′)
TEAMS
USA
1 Chance Wenglewski (17 David Ainu’u HT), 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai (16 Dylan Fawsitt 64′), 3 Paul Mullen (18 Paddy Ryan 60′), 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Greg Peterson (19 Ben Landry 57′), 6 Malon Al-Jiboori (20 Ben Pinkelman 57′), 7 Hanco Germishuys, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Shaun Davies (21 Nate Augspurger 53′), 10 AJ MacGinty (22 Will Magie 37′), 11 Madison Hughes (23 Thretton Palamo 57′), 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Blaine Scully (capt.), 15 Will Hooley
JAPAN
1 Keita Inagaki (17 Koki Yamamoto 64′), 2 Shota Horie (16 Atsushi Sakate 57′), 3 Asaeli Valu, 4 James Moore, 5 Uwe Helu (19 Wimpie van der Walt 49′), 6 Michael Leitch (capt.) (20 Kazuki Himeno 57′), 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 8 Hendrik Tui (18 Yusuke Kizu 79′), 9 Fumiaki Tanaka (21 Yutaka Nagare 49′), 10 Yu Tamura (22 Rikiya Matsuda 64′), 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 12 Timothy Lafaele, 13 Will Tupou, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 15 Ryohei Yamanaka (23 Lomano Lemeki 57′)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Glen Jackson (NZRU)
Assistants: Ben O’Keeffe (NZRU) & Tevita Rokovereni (FRU)
