Japan kick their way to victory
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Japan fullback Ayumu Goromaru scored six penalties to give his team a far from convincing 18-13 victory over Romania in the first test of their European tour.
Romania coach Lynn Howells made extensive changes following last week's 27-17 defeat by the United States but his side lacked the exciting cutting edge displayed by the rugby powerhouses.
Japan, who have reached an all-time high of ninth in the world rankings, started brightly and had the bulk of the possession but could not convert their overwhelming dominance into points.
Goromaru opened the scoring with a penalty after 16 minutes but The Oaks responded in style, taking a 10-3 advantage after flyhalf Florin Vlaicu scored a penalty, the only try in the game and an easy conversion during an impressive 10-minute spell.
The Brave Blossoms reduced the deficit to only one point at halftime after Goromaru slotted two more penalties and he confirmed his fine kicking form with three more penalties after the break.
Vlaicu made it 18-13 less than 10 minutes from time before missing another penalty in the closing stages at the Arch of Triumph National Rugby Stadium.
Romania, considered one of the strongest European teams outside the Six Nations, were missing some of their leading players including their first choice wing Madalin Lemnaru.
Japan fielded their strongest side after suffering two home defeats by the Maori All Blacks, games that did not carry full international status, earlier this month with coach Eddie Jones making only two changes as Masataka Mikami and Shoji Ito replaced Keita Inagaki and Luke Thompson.
Scorers:
For Romania:
Try: Penalty Try
Con: Vlaicu
Pens: Vlaicu 2
For Japan:
Pens: Goromaru 6
Yellow Card: Sirbe (Romania)
Teams:
Romania: 15 Catalin Fercu 14 Dorin Manole, 13 Csaba Gal, 12 Robert Dascalu, 11 Ionut Botezatu, 10 Florin Vlaicu, 9 Valentin Calafeteanu, 8 Daniel Carpo, 7 Mihai Macovei, 6 Ovidiu Tonita 5 Valentin Popirlan, 4 Marius Serbs, 3 Paulica Ion, 2 Andrei Radoi, 1 Andrei Ursache.
Replacements:16 Otar Turashvili, 17 Mihaita Lazar, 18 Horace bags, 19 Alin Coste, 20 Stelian Burca, Grigoras 21 Diaconescu, 22 Florin Ionita, 23 Robert Neagu.
Japan: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Karne Hesketh, 13 Kotaro Matsushima, 12 Male Sau, 11 Akihito Yamada, 10 Kosei Ono, 9 Atsushi Hiwasa, 8 Amanaki Lelei Mafi, 7 Michael Leitch, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Shinya Makabe, 4 Shoji Ito, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Takeshi Kizu, 1 Masataka Mikami.
Replacements: 16 Keita Inagaki, 17 Hiroki Yuhara, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Hitoshi Ono, 20 Hayden Hopgood , 21 Yuki Yatomi, 22 Harumichi Tatekawa, 23 Toshiaki Hirose.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Greg Garner (England), RFU Appointment
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
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