There was a lot at stake when Japan faced Samoa at Stadium de Toulouse on Thursday with both sides’ quarter-final hopes on the line. Japan kept their hopes alive with a fifteen-man effort to beat Samoa 28-22.
Japan struck the first blow after thirteen minutes of action when Pieter Labuschagne bulldozed his way over the tryline to score Japan's first try of the match to lead 07-00.
Samoa earned a deserved three points from an Alai D'Angelo Leuila converted the penalty. Samoa set up camp in the Japan 22m for ten minutes and missed several try-scoring opportunities. Japan still led 07-03 after twenty-four minutes of play in the first half.
Japan almost immediately replied with a converted penalty by Rikiya Matsuda that restored Japan's seven-point lead.
Brilliant handling and interplay by Japan led to Michael Leitch scoring Japan's second try in the corner to lead 17-03 after thirty minutes of play in the first half.
Samoa struck back seven minutes later when Seilala Lam scored from the back of a five-meter lineout-maul. In a closely fought match, Japan led 17-08 after forty minutes of action at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Japan were the first to score when Michael Leitch scored his second try from the back of a five-meter lineout maul to increase Japan's lead to 22-08 lead with thirty minutes still to play in the match. Five minutes later Rikiya Matsuda converted a second penalty to increase Japan's lead to 25-08.
Samoa were clearly not done and with fifteen minutes still to play, Duncan Paia'aua scored Samoa's second try following an attack that started in their half. Japan still led 25-15, however, the fourteen-man Samoa has stepped up the pace and physicality.
With five minutes still to play Rikiya Matsuda converted his third penalty to increase Japan's lead to 28-15, however, Samoa attacked from the kickoff and Christian Leali'ifano scored their third try with two minutes still to play. Despite their best efforts, the fourteen-man Samoa could not manage the miracle and Japan deservedly won 28-22.
Scorers:
Japan: Tries: Pieter Labuschagne, Michael Leitch (2). Conversions: Rikiya Matsuda (2). Penalty: Rikiya Matsuda (3)
Samoa: Tries: Seilala Lam, Duncan Paia'aua, Christian Leali'ifano. Conversions: Christian Leali'ifano (2). Penalty: Alai D'Angelo. Leuila.
Teams:
Japan: 1 Keita Inagaki, 2 Shota Horie, 3 Jiwon Gu, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 5 Amato Fakatava, 6 Michael Leitch, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 8 Kazuki Himeno (c), 9 Naoto Saito, 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 11 Jone Naikabula, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 13 Dylan Riley, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 15 Lomano Lemeki. Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Warner Dearns, 20 Kanji Shimokawa, 21 Kenta Fukuda, 22 Seungsin Lee, 23 Tomoki Osada.
Samoa: 1 James Lay, 2 Seilala Lam, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 4 Steven Luatua, 5 Theo McFarland, 6 Taleni Junior Agaese Seu, 7 Fritz Lee (c), 8 Sa Jordan Taufua, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 10 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Ben Lam, 12 Alai D'Angelo Leuila, 13 Tumua Manu, 14 Ed Fidow, 15 Duncan Paia'aua. Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Brian Alainu’u’ese, 20 Alamanda Motuga, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Neria Fomai, 23 Danny Toala.