Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024: Japan Secures Final Spot, to Face Fiji

SAMOA 27-49 JAPAN

After a tense first half, Japan had the upper hand with four tries to Samoa’s one.

After five strong minutes of pressure deep in the Pacific Islanders’ 22, Dylan Riley scored their first goal. He did so by getting on the end of Player-of-the-Match Seungsin Lee’s dab through Samoa’s defensive line.

Early on, the hosts controlled all of the territory and the ball. Japan surged ahead three minutes later after Samoan winger Elisapeta Alofipo was sin-binned for an illegal tackle and gave up a penalty try.

With 16 minutes remaining, another deft punt by Lee opened the field for Tomoki Osada to score Japan’s third. Shortly before halftime, Lee touched down for his own try after swift, clean phase play provided captain Harumichi Tatekawa space to deliver a telling pass to him.

Samoa, four-time winners, were defensive for most of the first half but did not give up. When they were down a man, former sevens winger Tuna Tuitama scored after Iakopo Petelo broke Japan’s defense open from a standing start. Additionally, Rodney Iona’s two penalties made sure they had a chance at the half.

However, early in the second half, Lee of the Brave Blossoms—who was playing at 15 for the first time in his 16-cap international career—broke them open. The line was broken by another dab ahead. After he returned the pass inside, he offloaded Japan’s fifth goal to flanker Kanji Shimokawa.

It was thrilling stuff. Samoa then rallied, with scrum-half Melani Matavao scoring to close the deficit to 35–20. Shortly after, a Tuitama knock-on halted a further potentially dangerous Samoan move. Next, Shinobu Fujiwara extended Japan’s lead by stepping, showing, and darting over from close quarters.

Lee booted the ball again a few minutes later, and a try ensued. However, Samoa scored this time, with Lalomilo Lalomilo scoring a beautiful goal after a fun 80-meter counter.

Even though fatigue had already taken hold, Japan still had time to dominate the phases from the midway line to Samoa’s 5m line, form a scrum, and execute a straightforward but potent strike move to provide Taichi Takahashi a one-on-one opportunity.

He didn’t make any errors. Lee, who converted and kept his perfect tournament record off the tee, didn’t either.

Eddie Jones, the coach of Japan, stated that his team still has a lot of work to do before the Osaka final the following weekend. He remarked, “We’re still too loose around the ruck.” “We have to keep the pitch small when we play the game in order to be defensive.”

But Theo McFarland, the captain of Samoa, believed that his team’s lack of discipline cost them. He declared, “I don’t think it was a lack of effort.” “We were disciplined to make mistakes all the time, especially when addressing blunders in the opening 20.

“We were also let down by our set piece in the second half. All of that eliminated our game’s momentum.