Player Ratings: The dream ends
OPINION: Japan put up a big fight in the first half against the Springboks, but in the end, the Springboks’ power in the forwards proved to be too much.
Japan ended up losing the match 3-26 but they can still be proud of their performance.
Warren Fortune rates the Japanese players:
15 Ryohei Yamanaka
He had a few good runs, but nothing spectacular from the fullback.
5/10
14 Kotaro Matsushima
He was well-marked out wide, but that did not stop him from improving his running metres tally.
6/10
13 Timothy Lafaele
He ran sideways a lot as he was put under a lot of pressure from the Bok defenders.
5/10
12 Ryoto Nakamura
He struggled in the midfield against the Springboks rush defence, but he was solid on defence
5/10
11 Kenki Fukuoka
He beat Cheslin Kolbe out wide with his speed, but his opportunities were limited. He did look for work around the park.
6/10
10 Yu Tamura
His poor defending resulted in Makazole Mapimpi’s first try. But he was good on occasions with ball in hand.
6/10
9 Yutaka Nagare
He was outstanding in the first half with his speed at the breakdowns, which put the Boks on the backfoot on occasions.
7/10
8 Kazuki Himeno
He had a few powerful carries against the Boks and he was abrasive in the tackle.
6.5/10
7 Pieter Labuschagne
He did not have much of an impact like he did in other games, but he was still prominent on defence.
6/10
6 Michael Leitch (captain)
He put in an impressive shift around the park especially with ball in hand.
7/10
5 James Moore
He made more tackles than anyone else in his team, but that is not enough in a big game like this.
6/10
4 Luke Thompson
He had a few good runs with the ball and brought some physicality in open play.
5.5/10
3 Koo Ji-won
It was not his best performance in the scrums, but he carried the ball like a man possessed.
5/10
2 Shota Horie
He had plenty to do around the park, but he did not make too much of an impact doing it.
5/10
1 Keita Inagaki
One of the best players on the park for Japan, especially with ball in hand.
6.5/10
Replacements:
16 Atsushi Sakate (On for Shota Horie, 72nd min)
Not enough time to be rated.
17 Isileli Nakajima (On for Keita Inagaki, 68th min)
Not enough time to be rated.
18 Asaeli Ai Valu (On for Koo Ji-won, 64th min)
He had a few powerful runs, but was dominated in the scrums.
5/10
19 Wimpie van der Walt (On for Luke Thompson, 54th min)
Jamie Joseph would have expected more from the big guy, but he let his team down in open play.
4/10
20 Amanaki Lelei Mafi (On for Kazuki Himeno, 52nd min)
He got his team over the gainline on a few occasions and tackled well in the second half.
5.5/10
21 Fumiaki Tanaka (On for Yutaka Nagare, 72nd min)
Not enough time to be rated
22 Rikiya Matsuda (On for Yu Tamura, 48th min)
Could not get his team going on attack like Tamura.
4/10
23 Lomano Lava Lemeki (On for Ryohei Yamanaka, 60th min)
It was hard to believe he was on the field. He was virtually invisible.
3/10
