Revenge for fired-up Samoa

Visitors Samoa avenged their loss in the Pacific Nations Cup – in June – when they roared back from a 10-point deficit to beat Japan 13-10 in a hard-fought Test match played in Tokyo on Saturday.

Kiwi-born flyhalf James Arlidge opened the scoring for Japan in the second minute with a penalty and number eight Ryukoliniasi Holani touched down to stretch the lead to 8-0 five minutes later.

Arlidge cashed in to make it 10-0, but it completed the scoring for the home side as the selfsame Arlidge then missed a drop-goal in the 16th minute.

Fullback Lolo Lui pulled back two penalties in the second half, before scrumhalf Kahn Foitualii scored a try to make it 11-10 – Lui duly stretching the lead with a conversion, before Arlidge missed another penalty in between.

Japan play another Test against Russia on Saturday, November 6.

AFP