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Rugby World Cup mainstay Japan defeated a spirited Chile in Toulouse on Sunday. The Asians outscored the South Americans by six tries to two. Two late tries meant the final score was a Japanese victory by 42-12.
The match was the second in Pool D. It followed Saturday’s contest wherein England overcame a poor Argentina in Marseille. Japan’s win means the Asians are at the top Pool D.
A late change saw Yutaka Nagare leading Japan. The scrum-half replaced Kazuki Himeno who was forced out. This meant Australian Jack Cornelsen moved to the back of the scrum while Tongan Amanaki Saumaki started in the second-row.
Chile’s debut at the World Cup started well. Enterprising play saw Iñaki Ayarza break a tackle and slice through two others. Marcelo Torrealba ran a support line and was stopped well inside the Japanese 22. The ball went to the floor with Japan unable to gather it. Rodrigo Fernández kicked through and scored.
Santiago Videla converted but while the celebrations continued, the South Americans were unable to take the restart cleanly. Japan said thank you with Amato Fakatava scoring. The rapid-fire start had the teams back to even before 10 minutes.
Chile were not interested in playing defensively. Matías Garafulic broke through the middle for Chile. Los Cóndores put phases together before Japan won a penalty for not releasing. The Asian side got back to the other end of the field. They turned down two penalties five metes from the line only for Chile’s defense to hold strong.
Japan won two penalties for late tackles. The second saw Matías Dittus yellow carded for hitting Ji won Gu late around his knees. Chile held off one Japanese raid but not two. From an attacking scrum, Fijian Jone Naikabula scored near the left corner. Matsuda slotted a tough conversion.
With half-time approaching Chile were hit with bad luck. Kotaro Matsushima caught a ball and ran in to Martín Sigren. The players’ heads collided. The incident meant Chile were back to 14 with Sigren yellow-carded. Japan scored from a lineout to maul with Tongan Fakatava breaking off to score his second try. Matsuda converted to close the half at 21-7.
Japan’s second and third tries were while Chile was a man down. Sigren returned with Japan losing Dylan Riley to a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Chile attacked and won an advantage penalty. Rodrigo Fernández kicked left for a ricochet to find Iñaki Ayarza. He was spotted within inches. Marcelo Torrealba darted but was just short. N8 Alfonso Escobar then went over for the score.
In his fourth Rugby World Cup. Michael Leitch hit-back for Japan. The former captain scored under the posts for the bonus point. Japan scored their fifth try nine minutes from full-time. Center Ryoto Nakamura and replacement Warner Dearns scored in the final ten minutes to see Japan finish with six tries.
Pool D will resume next weekend. Chile face Samoa in Bordeaux on Saturday while Japan face England in Nice on Sunday.
SCORING
JAPAN (42)
Try – A Fakatava 2 (8’, 40’); J Naikabula (30’); M Leitch (53’); R Nakamura (71′). W Dearns (80′)
Con – R Matsuda 6/6 (9’, 31’, 40’, 54’, 72′, 80′)
YC – D Riley (46’)
CHILE (12)
Try – R Fernández (6’); A Escobar (48’)
Con – S Videla 1/2 (7’)
YC – M Dittus (23’); M Sigren (38’)
TEAMS
JAPAN
1 Keita Inagaki, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 3 Ji won Gu, 4 Amanaki Saumaki, 5 Amato Fakatava, 6 Michael Leitch, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 8 Jack Cornelsen, 9 Yutaka Nagare (capt.), 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 11 Jone Naikabula, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 13 Dylan Riley, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 15 Semisi Masirewa
Replacements: 16 Shota Horie, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Warner Dearns, 20 Shota Fukui, 21 Naoto Saito, 22 Tomoki Osada, 23 Lomano Lemeki
CHILE
1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Diego Escobar, 3 Matías Dittus, 4 Clemente Saavedra, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Martín Sigren (capt.), 7 Raimundo Martínez, 8 Alfonso Escobar, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Rodrigo Fernández, 11 Franco Velarde, 12 Matías Garafulic, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Santiago Videla, 15 Iñaki Ayerza
Replacements: 16 Augusto Bohme, 17 Salvador Lues, 18 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 19 Pablo Huete, 20 Santiago Pedrero, 21 Ignacio Silva, 22 Lukas Carvallo, 23 José Larenas
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England); Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
