Japan boosted by 'boring' rugby win over Georgia
MATCH REPORT: Japan blanked Georgia 28-0 on Saturday to end a busy month of home Tests on a high note after splitting a two-match series against Italy.
The 2019 World Cup hosts, ranked one spot above Georgia at 11th in the world, ran in three second-half tries after a scrappy first period in rain-soaked Toyota.
Leading by nine points at the break, Japan broke the game open when Wimpie van der Walt bundled over three minutes after the restart, quickly followed by a brilliant solo try from Lomano Lemeki.
Kazuki Himeno added a third try for the Brave Blossoms, who were never seriously threatened by the visitors.
“It might be boring to watch but this is how you win Test matches against a team like Georgia,” said Japan captain Michael Leitch.
“We kept them under pressure and that was the key to the victory.”
Earlier this month, Japan beat Italy 34-17 before coming up just short in a 22-25 defeat against the Azzurri last weekend.
Flyhalf Yu Tamura finished with 10 points but completed just four of eight attempts with the boot, missing several easy kicks.
However, Georgia failed to punish Japan in an error-strewn display that came after defeats by Pacific islanders Tonga and Fiji.
Captain Jaba Bregvadze, who plays Super Rugby for the Tokyo-based Sunwolves, tipped Japan to make a splash at next year’s World Cup after they stunned the sport by winning three games at the 2015 tournament.
“We performed really badly but Japan have improved 200 percent in the last few years and every year they are getting better,” said the hooker. “They will be even better next year.”
Agence France-Presse
