Georgia beat 13-man Japan as Eddie Jones stays winless

MATCH REPORT: Georgia denied Eddie Jones his first win of his second stint as Japan coach after scoring a late try to claim a 25-23 victory in Sendai on Saturday.

The feisty Australian was leading Japan out for the second time, after suffering a thrashing at the hands of his former team England in Tokyo three weeks ago.

Japan were reduced to 14 men midway through the first half but fought back and led until Giorgi Javakhia’s try with six minutes left gave Georgia an easy conversion to win the game.

Jones will have another chance to get off the mark when Japan play Italy in Sapporo in a week’s time.

“We played the way Japan is known for and I’m proud of the team, but we’re not satisfied with the result,” said Japan captain Michael Leitch.

“We’re looking ahead to the Italy game and we want to prepare well for that.”

Jones has said he wants Japan to play the fastest game in the world and they came roaring out of the blocks to score a try in the third minute through Jone Naikabula.

But Japan had to play three-quarters of the match with 14 players after loose forward Kanji Shimokawa was yellow carded for dangerous play after 18 minutes, then saw it upgraded to red after a review.

They were reduced to 13 men for the last 10 minutes, replacement Sanaila Waqa was yellow-carded in the 71st minute.

“We tried to stay positive,” said Leitch.

“Just because you’re playing with a man less, it doesn’t mean you’re going to lose.”

Georgia took advantage when hooker Vano Karkadze went over for a try less than a minute later.

Scrumhalf Mikheil Alania broke through for Georgia’s second try to leave Japan with an uphill battle in the second half.

The home side dominated after the break despite their numerical disadvantage, and retook the lead when Tomoki Osada touched down for a try after a period of sustained pressure.

Javakhia had the final word when he barged over to tie the game 23-23, and Luka Matkava’s simple conversion gave Georgia the win a week after they lost at home to Fiji.

The scorers

For Japan
Tries: Naikabula, Osada
Cons: Lee 2
Pens: Lee 3

For Georgia:
Tries: Karkadze, Alania, Javakhia
Cons: Matkava 2
Pens: Matkava 2

Red card: Kanji Shimokawa (Japan, 18)
Yellow cards: Giorgi Kveseladze (Georgia, 58), Sanaila Waqa (Japan, 71)

Teams

Japan: 15 Yoshitaka Yazaki, 14 Jone Naikabula, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Samisoni Tua, 11 Tomoki Osada, 10 Seungsin Lee, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Tevita Tatafu, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 6 Faulua Makisi, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Michael Leitch (captain), 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Mamoru Harada, 1 Takayoshi Mohara.
Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Takato Okabe, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Sanaila Waqa, 20 Tiennan Costley, 21 Taiki Koyama, 22 Takuya Yamasawa, 23 Koga Nezuka.

Georgia: 15 Davit Niniashvili, 14 Aka Tabutsadze, 13 Demur Tapladze, 12 Giorgi Kveseladze, 11 Sandro Todua, 10 Luka Matkava, 9 Mikheil Alania, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 7 Beka Saghinadze, 6 Giorgi Tsutskiridze, 5 Giorgi Javakhia, 4 Lado Chachanidze, 3 Irakli Aptsiauri, 2 Vano Karkadze, 1 Giorgi Akhaladze.
Replacements: 16 Luka Nioradze, 17 Luka Goginava, 18 Giorgi Dzmanashvili, 19 Mikheil Babunashvili, 20 Luka Ivanishvili, 21 Tornike Jalagonia, 22 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 23 Tedo Abzhandadze.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England), George Myers (Australia)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)