Japan took advantage of Samoa’s indiscipline with another vibrant Rugby World Cup display to secure an emphatic 26-5 victory which keeps them in the hunt for a quarter-final place and knocked out Stephen Betham’s side.
Saturday’s Pool B clash in Milton Keynes was billed as ‘do or die’ for both sides and it was Japan who rose to the occasion to prove their sensational win over South Africa was no fluke.
Samoa never got going and were reduced to 13 men in the first half went Sakaria Taulafo and Faifili Levave were sent to the sin-bin, then Filo Paulo was also yellow-carded late on, but they were no match for a lively Japan side at stadium:mk even with the full 15.
Japan are firmly in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages for the first time ahead of their final pool match against the United States next Sunday after Akihito Yamada went over following a penalty try as they raced into a 20-0 lead at half-time.
Ayumu Goromaru then took his tally with the boot to 16 after the break and although Paul Perez finally got Samoa on the scoreboard with a try, the game was gone by then – as well as their hopes of reaching the last eight.
Goromaru had an early try disallowed for a forward pass but did have the consolation of being able to slot over a penalty instead and should have doubled Japan’s lead after 11 minutes, but was off target with his second kick from the tee.
Samoa were not doing themselves any favours and they were reduced to 13 men after 18 minutes when Taulafo was yellow-carded for tackling Goromaru while he was taking a high ball after Levave soon after had been sin-binned for a late tackle without the use of the arms.
Japan took advantage by stretching their lead to 10-0 with a penalty try awarded when the Samoa pack buckled under pressure, which left Goromaru with a simple conversion 25 minutes in.
Samoa’s full complement was restored, but Goromaru booted another three points and things went from bad to worse for Betham’s men when wing Yamada went over in the right corner on the stroke of half-time and Goromaru made it 20-0 with a fine conversion from the touchline.
Japan lost record cap-holder Hitoshi Ono to injury at half-time, but another Goromaru penalty put them further ahead before Yamada was carried off after lengthy treatment.
Goromaru was on target with another penalty before Perez rounded off a move from right to left to bundle over, but Tusi Pisi failed to convert and Paulo was then sent to the bin to sum up a miserable day for Samoa.
Surprise package Japan, on the other hand, could join either Scotland or South Africa in the quarter-finals.