Eddie Jones' 14-man Japan see off Uruguay

MATCH REPORT: Japan overcame a second-half red card to secure a 36-20 victory over Uruguay at Chambéry Savoie Stadium on Saturday.

The Brave Blossoms displayed resilience to kept the lid on the South Americans despite ill-discipline letting the side down.

Uruguay opened the scoring in the 6th minute with a try from number eight Manuel Diana, converted by flyhalf Felipe Álvarez, giving them an early 7-0 lead.

Japan responded swiftly through captain Kazuki Himeno who powered over the line in the ninth minute, narrowing the gap to 7-5.

Álvarez extended Uruguay’s lead to 10-5 with a penalty in the 19th minute but it was Japan who then took control.

A penalty from fly-half Takuro Matsunaga, which was followed by unconverted tries from winger Junta Hamano in the 31st minute and centre Kanji Shimokawa in the 35th minute.

Japan’s ill-discipline let Uruguay get a foothold back in the match however, when scrumhalf Naoto Saito was sin-binned in the 38th minute; an indiscretion that was immediately punished by Uruguay through the boot of Alvarez.

His penalty kick made it 18-13 going into the break.

The second half began with Uruguay levelling the score at 18-18, courtesy of a try from flank Lucas Bianchi, before Álvarez pushed Uruguay two points in front with a successful conversion.

Japan hit back through wing Jone Naikabula, who crossed the line in the 51st minute to put Japan back in front. Saito failed to convert, although a penalty from Matsunaga would follow ten minutes later, bringing the score to 26-20 t0 Japan.

It was in the 65th minute that Japan again faced a major setback when lock Warner Dearns received a red card for a high tackle, reducing the team to 14 men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Japan were again the next to score, care of a penalty from Saito, which extended the lead to 29-20.

Highly rated centre Dylan Riley sealed the victory with a try in the 77th minute, converted by Saito, finalizing the score at 36-20.

The scorers:

For Japan:
Tries: Himeno, Hamano, Shimokawa, Naikabula, Riley
Con: Saito
Pens: Matsunaga 2, Saito,

For Uruguay:
Tries: Diana, Bianchi
Cons: Alvarez 2
Pens: Alvarez 2

Yellow card: Naoto Saito (Japan, 38).

Red card: Warner Dearns (Japan, 64)

Teams:

Japan: 15 Malo Tuitama, 14 Jone Naikabula, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Siosaia Fifita, 11 Junta Hamano, 10 Takuro Matsunaga, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 6 Amato Fakatava, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Epineri Uluiviti, 3 Keijiro Tamefusa, 2 Mamoru Harada, 1 Takato Okabe.
Replacements: 16 Kenta Matsuoka, 17 Yukio Morikawa, 18 Opeti Helu, 19 Sanaila Waqa, 20 Isaiah Mapusua, 21 Shinobu Fujiwara, 22 Nik McCurran, 23 Yusuke Kajimura

Uruguay: 15 Juan Gonzales, 14 Bautista Basso, 13 Felipo Arcros Perez, 12 Juan Manual Alonso, 11 Ignacio Facciolo, 10 Icaro Amarillo, 9 Santiago Alverez, 8 Manual Diana, 7 Lucas Bianchi, 6 Santiago Civetta, 5 Manual Leindekar, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 3 Diego Arbelo, 2 Guillermo Pujadas, 1 Mateo Sanquinetti.
Replacements: 16 Joaquín Myszka, 17 Mateo Perillo, 18 Ignacio Peculo, 19 Felipe Aliaga, 20 Carlos Deus, 21 Joaquín Suárez, 22 Ignacio Álvarez, 23 Gastón Mieres

Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant Referees: Luc Ramos (France) & Adam Leal (England)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)

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