Second-string All Blacks crush Japan in Tokyo
MATCH REPORT: Flyhalf Richie Mo’unga sparked a second-string All Blacks side to a 69-31 victory over plucky Japan in Tokyo on Saturday.
Mo’unga scored a try and went eight-from-nine with the boot in a sparkling 22-point display for the world champions, who ran in 10 tries against the 2019 World Cup hosts.
Ngani Laumape bagged a hat-trick of tries, while George Bridge marked his All Blacks debut with a pair after coming on at the start of the second half.
But New Zealand, resting their big-hitters for November Tests away to England, Ireland and Italy, were given a workout by Japan watched by a crowd of 43 000.
The Brave Blossoms scored five tries of their own –including the game’s first, run in by Samuela Anise after just three minutes to stun the visitors.
Hooker Dane Coles marked his return after a year out with a knee injury by grabbing New Zealand’s first try to settle nerves among a new-look All Blacks side.
The World Cup holders scored quickfire tries as Mo’unga dived over before Laumape latched on to a clever kick from Waisake Naholo to race clear.
Hendrik Tui kept Japan in touch with a controversial effort but Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Laumape punched through to extend New Zealand’s advantage.
Japan refused to back down, however, and Timothy Lafaele smashed over in the corner to reduce the deficit to 38-19 at half-time.
Bridge scored with his first touch as an All Black after a superb burst from Mo’unga before Japan grabbed the game’s highlight try, Yu Tamura dinking a pinpoint kick into the corner for Jamie Henry to dive over one-handed.
But the All Blacks replied with four tries in 12 minutes through Naholo, Matt Proctor, Laumape for this third of the game and a rampaging Bridge, who will have given New Zealand selectors a headache with his impressive cameo.
Lafaele stopped the bleeding for Japan by crashing over for his second try of the game, converted by Tamura, as the home side had the final word of a pulsating contest.
Man of the match: Ngani Laumape was a force in the midfield and he scored three tries in the match. Waisake Naholo was a handful out wide, while Jackson Hemopo was immense with ball in hand. George Bridge was phenomenal in the second half. He finally got the chance to show his skills in an All Black jersey and he scored two tries with some nice touches. However, the award goes to flyhalf Richie Mo’unga who was excellent on attack. Mo’unga kept the Japanese defence guessing each time he had the ball and he was involved in a number of tries.
Moment of the match: When George Bridge came onto the field. He was brilliant in the second half.
Villain of the match: Nobody. It was a great game.
The scorers:
For Japan:
Tries: Anise, Tui, Lafaele 2, Henry
Cons: Tamura 3
For New Zealand:
Tries: Coles, Mo’unga, Laumape 3, Tahuriorangi, Bridge 2, Naholo, Proctor
Cons: Mo’unga 7, Barrett
Pen: Mo’unga
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Teams:
Japan: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka, 14 Jamie Henry, 13 William Tupou, 12 Timothy Lafaele, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 8 Hendrik Tui, 7 Kazuki Himeno, 6 Michael Leitch (captain), 5 Samuela Anise, 4 Wimpie Van Der Walt, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Keita Inagaki.
Replacements: 16 Yusuke Niwai, 17 Masataka Mikami, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Uwe Helu, 20 Isileli Nakajima, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Ryoto Nakamura.
New Zealand: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Luke Whitelock (captain), 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Jackson Hemopo, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ofa Tuungafasi.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Dillon Hunt, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Mitch Drummond, 22 Brett Cameron, 23 George Bridge.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), Graham Cooper (Australia)
TMO: Damien Mitchelmore (Australia)
AFP & @rugby365com
