Uruguay humbled in Kitakyushu by Impressive Japan

Uruguay were humbled by Japan on Saturday, losing 43-7. Played at the Mikuni World Stadium in Kitakyushu, the home side controlled play to easily account for Los Teros. The defeat was the largest by the South Americans since 2018.

Japan outscored Uruguay by six tries to one. The six Asian tries were all scored before Manuel Ardao scored for Los Teros. Japanese hooker and captain Atsushi Sakate impressed with a double. Centers Yusuke Kajimura and Australian Dylan Riley also both scored in what was a solid afternoon for the duo.

Sakate and Riley both went over for first half tries. Fly half Takuya Yamasawa also landed three early penalties which combined to give Japan a 19-0 half-time lead. The lead was such despite neither of Japan’s first half tries being converted.

Japan’s four second half tries were spread out. The first saw Sakate touching down for the second time. South African Gerhard van den Heever scored on debut in the 55th minute and penalty try followed un the 61st. Santiago Civetta was yellow carded at the same time; yet, Japan were not done as Kajimura scored wo minutes later.

Leading 43-0, it was a clinical win for Japan. Uruguay were beaten by a much stronger team on the day. To their credit, Los Teros made sure to finish the match with a try to their name. Ardao’s score followed his try in the first test match seven days earlier.

Japan now turn their attention to France. The RWC 2019 hosts will face the RWC 2023 hosts in two test matches in July. Los Teros fly home to prepare for two matches against Romania. Having lost by the biggest margin since the 2018 defeat against Fiji in England, Uruguay need to regroup fast.

Los Teros are expected to be boosted by the addition of players who missed the Japan tour due to the dates falling outside of the player release window. Indeed, Uruguay’s line-up was dominated by players from the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR).

 

SCORING

JAPAN 43
Tries – A. Sakate (5′), D. Riley (38′), B. Gunter (50′), G. van den Heever (55′), Penalty try (61′), Y. Kajimura (63′)
Cons – T. Yamasawa 0/4, No kick (61′), S. Lee 1/1 (64′)
Pens – T. Yamasawa 3/3 (9′, 16′, 23′)
YC – K. Inagaki (69′)

URUGUAY 7
Tries – M. Ardao (74′)
Cons – F. Etcheverry 1/1 (75′)
YC – S. Civetta (61′)

 

JAPAN
1 Keita Inagaki (17 Shogo Miura 79′), 2 Atsushi Sakate (capt.) (16 Shota Horie 62′), 3 Yusuke Kizu (18 Asaeli Valu 51′), 4 Jack Cornelsen, 5 Warner Dearns (19 Sanaila Waqa 51′), 6 Michael Leitch, 7 Ben Gunter (20 Masato Furukawa 57′), 8 Faulua Makisi, 9 Naoto Saito (21 Daiki Nakajima 62′), 10 Takuya Yamasawa (22 Seungsin Lee 62′), 11 Siosaia Fifita (23 Shogo Nakano 65′), 12 Yusuke Kajimura, 13 Dylan Riley, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 15 Ryuji Noguchi

URUGUAY
1 Juan Echeverría (17 Matias Benítez 59′), 2 Guillermo Pujadas (16 Emiliano Faccennini 70′), 3 Ignacio Péculo (18 Mathias Franco 70′), 4 Eric Dosantos, 5 Diego Magno (19 Tomás Etcheverry 70′), 6 Lucas Bianchi (20 Franco Lamanna 57′), 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Manuel Ardao, 9 Tomás Inciarte (21 Santiago Álvarez 70′), 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Bautista Basso, 12 Andrés Vilaseca (capt.), 13 Nicolás Freitas (23 Baltazar Amaya 62′), 14 Juan Manuel Alonso (22 Mateo Viñals 51′), 15 Rodrigo Silva

 

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Graham Cooper (Australia)
Assistants: Mike Fraser (New Zealand) & Reuben Keane (Australia)
TMO: Oli Kellett (Australia)

 

ATTENDANCE: 11,664