Samoa fightback sinks Japan

Tokyo - 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 Test match on Saturday in Tokyo.

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 added the conversion to make it 10-0, but that completed the scoring for the home side as Arlidge 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 and Lui duly stretched the lead with a conversion.

Japan play another Test against Russia on November 6.