Japan sees red as Fiji, Samoa set early World Cup markers

PACIFIC NATIONS CUP ROUND ONE WRAP: Japan admitted they would have to toughen up mentally ahead of the World Cup after losing to Samoa on Saturday, following a first-half red card for veteran Michael Leitch.

Samoa edged the game 24-22 in Sapporo in what was a dress rehearsal for the two teams’ Pool D encounter at the World Cup in France later this year.

Japan took an early lead, but suffered a blow when former captain Leitch was red-carded 10 minutes before the break for a dangerous tackle on Samoa’s So’otala Fa’aso’o.

Japan flank Kazuki Himeno said it was “disappointing” that the Brave Blossoms could not shake off the mental effects of Leitch’s dismissal.

“We wanted to keep going without being too pessimistic about it but it did put a damper on our team’s morale,” he said.

“We couldn’t turn the tide.”

The New Zealand-born Leitch was playing in the city where he first lived after arriving in Japan as a 15-year-old.

But his involvement did not even last until half-time after he saw red for hitting Fa’aso’o high in the tackle.

Japan flyhalf Lee Seung-sin tried to take the positives out of playing with 14 men.

“How we play with a man down isn’t something we can experience in training,” he said.

“We did everything we could in that situation and we did lose in the end, but it was a positive experience and in a sense we learned a lot.”

Japan and Samoa have been drawn together in Pool D at the World Cup alongside England, Argentina and Chile.

They face each other in Toulouse on September 28.

Japan staked an early lead after a try from debutant Amato Fakatava, who wriggled over the line in the sixth minute.

Samoa, who handed a debut to former Wallabies playmaker Christian Leali’ifano, came back into the match with tries from Alamanda Motuga and Jonathan Taumateine.

Japan stayed ahead through flyhalf Lee’s boot, but another try from Samoa’s Tumua Manu in the 63rd minute turned the tables on the Brave Blossoms.

Japan reached the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time on home soil four years ago, and Leitch has said he believes they can win this year’s tournament.

Fullback Ryohei Yamanaka admitted that they had “challenges to overcome” if they are to make an impact.

“We want to prepare well,” he said.

“We will fix the problems from today’s game so that we can produce good results at the World Cup.”

Japan continue their preparations with another home Test match against Tonga next Saturday, before playing Fiji one week later.

* (Article continues below …)

🟥 Michael Leitch red carded for this tackle on Sootala Fa’aso’o.#JPNvSAM pic.twitter.com/EIz32Efm9n

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) July 22, 2023

* In the other match on Saturday Fiji scored five tries to three to beat Tonga 36-20 in Lautoka.

Playing in their only home game before the global tournament, the Fijians delighted their supporters in Lautoka by racing ahead 19-0 after 12 minutes before withstanding a fightback from their Pacific neighbours.

The hosts registered an early penalty try and quickly extended that lead when captain Waisea Nayacalevu and Sam Matavesi crossed.

Tonga closed to within four points following tries to forwards Siua Maile and Halaleva Fifita, but Fiji pushed their lead to 26-15 at the interval when Josua Tuisova scored their fourth try.

The scoring dried up as heat-sapping conditions took their toll in the second spell.

Tongan back Kyren Taumoefolau scored his side’s only try of the second half before replacement Fijian scrumhalf Peni Matawalu pushed the game out of reach with a late try off the back of scrum pressure.

Tonga, who beat Australia A last week, were missing some of their more prominent names such as former Wallaby outside back Israel Folau.

They face a daunting pool assignment when the World Cup kicks off in France in September, having drawn South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and Romania.

Fiji is thought to have a stronger chance of advancing from a pool that also features Australia, Wales, Georgia and Uruguay.

The Fijians will continue their preparation for the hallmark event as they travel to Apia to face Samoa next weekend.

Meanwhile, Tonga will look to rebound against Japan in Osaka.

Scores and scorers

Japan 22-24 Samoa

The scorers

For Japan
Try: Fakatava,
Con: Lee
Pens: Lee 5

For Samoa
Tries: Motuga, Taumateine, Manu
Cons: Leali’ifano 3
Pen: Leali’ifano

Yellow card: Taleni Seu (Samoa, 15 – repeated infringements)
Red card: Michael Leitch (Japan, 29 – foul play, dangerous tackle)

Teams

Japan: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Shogo Nakano, 11 Jone Naikabula, 10 Seungsin Lee, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 8 Michael Leitch 7 Kazuki Himeno, 6 Jack Cornelsen, 5 Amato Fakatava, 4 James Moore, 3 Jiwon Gu, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Keita Inagaki.
Replacements: 16 Shota Horie, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Shinnosuke Kakinaga, 19 Uwe Helu, 20 Shota Fukui, 21 Naoto Saito, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Tomoki Osada.

Samoa: 15 Danny Toala, 14 Neria Fomai, 13 Ulupano Seuteni, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Tumua Manu, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 7 Alamanda Motuga, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Michael Curry, 4 Brian Alainu’uese, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Luteru Tolai, 1 Jordan Lay.
Replacements: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Tietie Tuimauga, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Genesis Mamea Lemalu, 20 Miracle Faiilagi, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Martini Talapusi, 23 Ed Fidow.

Referee: Mathieu Raynal

Fiji 36-20 Tonga

Scorers

For Fiji
Tries: Penalty try, Nayacalevu, Matavesi, Tuisova, Matawalu
Cons: Penalty try does not require a conversion, Muntz 3
Pen: Muntz

For Tonga
Tries: Maile, Fifita, Taumoefolau
Con: Mausia
Pen: Mausia

Yellow card: Tanginoa Halaifonua (Tonga, 5 – cynical foul, illegally collapsing a maul)

Teams

Fiji: 15 Salesi Piutau, 14 Fine Inisi, 13 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Solomone Kata, 10 Otumaka Mausia, 9 Sonatane Takulua (captain), 8 Vaea Fifita, 7 Solomone Funaki, 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Leva Fifita, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi.
Replacements: 16 Sam Moli, 17 Feao Fotuaika, 18 Tau Koloamatangi, 19 Sitiveni Mafi, 20 Sione Vailanu, 21 Manusiu Paea, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Kyren Taumoefolau.

Tonga: 15 Salesi Piutau, 14 Fine Inisi, 13 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Solomone Kata, 10 Otumaka Mausia, 9 Sonatane Takulua (captain), 8 Vaea Fifita, 7 Solomone Funaki, 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 5 Samiuela Lousi, 4 Halaleva Fifita, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Siegfrtied Fisi’ihoi.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Feao Fotuaika, 18 Tau Koloamatangi, 19 Sitiveni Mafi, 20 Sione Vailanu, 21 Manu Paea, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Kyren Taumoefolau.

Referee: Paul Williams