03 Oct 2015
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03 Oct 2015
MAN OF THE MATCH!
Japanese fullback Ayumu Goromaru is the man of the match!
03 Oct 2015
FULL TIME AT STADIUM MK
Japan have won their second game at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and deservedly so! Once again, they have been superb on attack and defence. Samoa, it must be said, were incredibly ill disciplined throughout the match and had three players binned.
Samoa 5 Japan 26
03 Oct 2015
77' - YELLOW CARD to Paulo!
Craig Joubert has had enough. Paulo is sent to the bin for diving through a ruck and taking out the Japanese scrumhalf.
03 Oct 2015
74' - The ill discipline continues as Lam takes out a Japanese player without the ball. That's 16 penalties conceded by Samoa.
Goromaru sets up a lineout just outside the Samoan 22m area.
03 Oct 2015
73' - Just as Samoa look to build, another knock-on thwarts any momentum they might have gained. This time replacement Matu'u knocks on a routine pass.
03 Oct 2015
69' - Goromaru has a chance to add another three points as Samoa are penalised for a ruck infringement. The Japanese fullback misses out to the left.
03 Oct 2015
66' - Mafi is on for Japan and already racking up the metres! He is difficult to bring down.
03 Oct 2015
64' - TRY to Samoa!
Finally, they have their try! It comes from an attack from their own 22m area with some excellent backline play. More importantly, they managed to keep possession until Perez got over in the left-hand corner.
Pisi cannot convert as he hits the upright with his attempt!
Samoa 5 Japan 26
03 Oct 2015
63' - Samoa surge into the Japanese 22m area, finally keeping the ball through a number of phases.
03 Oct 2015
61' - Japan maul towards the Samoan line but the islanders do well first to stop the maul and secondly to win possession.
03 Oct 2015
60' - And now Thompson is pinged for hands in the ruck. That's 14 penalties to 3 now...
Goromaru sets up a lineout in the Samoan 22m area.
03 Oct 2015
58' - PENALTY slotted by Goromaru!
Samoa 0 Japan 26
03 Oct 2015
56' - Japan have another penalty as Samoa are pinged for a high tackle. Treviranus is the guilty party and Goromaru will kick at goal.
03 Oct 2015
55' - Yamada is replaced by Hesketh. Applause all round the stadium for the Japanese winger.
03 Oct 2015
55' - Yamada is down injured for Japan. He looks to have been knocked out after attempting a tackle and getting a knee in the head.
03 Oct 2015
55' - Once again a handling error lets Samoa down. They have been shocking in all aspects today.
03 Oct 2015
54' - Samoa move onto the attack but once again can't keep possession, Japan clear down into the Samoan half, but the ball is not out of play yet.
03 Oct 2015
50' - Japan monster the Samoan scrum once gain and win a penalty!
Goromaru sets up a lineout near half-way.
03 Oct 2015
49' - Finally some spark from Samoa as Perez and Fotuali'i combine down the blindside. Unfortunately for Samoa their hands let them down as they try to grind the ball over the line, gifting a scrum to Japan.
03 Oct 2015
47' - PENALTY slotted by Goromaru!
First blood in the second half to Japan as they extend their lead.
Samoa 0 Japan 23
03 Oct 2015
45' - Samoa are once again penalised for offside. A little bit of tension erupts between the two teams as Pisi gets a little annoyed with Tanaka, the smallest man at the World Cup.
Goromaru will have another shot at goal.
03 Oct 2015
44' - A massive scrum by Japan wins a penalty and Goromaru will ease the pressure, setting a lineup deep in the Samoan half.
03 Oct 2015
43' - And again stout Japanese defence keeps them honest and Leota loses the ball in contact.
03 Oct 2015
42' - Samoa have an early scrum just inside the Japanese half. They will want an early score for sure.
03 Oct 2015
40' - The second half is underway! Can Samoa get back into this?
03 Oct 2015
Those first half stats are something else! Japan had 68% of the possession and 73% of the territory!
03 Oct 2015
HALF-TIME AT STADIUM MK
Japan have totally dominated the first half! Samoa's discipline however, leaves a lot to be desired!
Samoa 0 Japan 20
03 Oct 2015
40' - CONVERSION slotted by Goromaru!
Samoa 0 Japan 20
03 Oct 2015
40' - TRY to Japan!
Yamada is over in the right-hand corner after brushing off Tuilagi! The Japanese ball retention is just superb!
Samoa 0 Japan 18
03 Oct 2015
39' - Unfortunately for Samoa nothing came of their attack and Japan move the ball back into the Samoan half after some excellent work by Sau. They are only 5 meters from the Samoan line.
03 Oct 2015
37' - Some respite for Samoa as Japan are penalised for obstruction while on attack. Pisi sets up a lineout on halfway. They really will want to score before the end of the first half.
03 Oct 2015
Samoa have conceded 9 penalties in the first 35 minutes. Their discipline is shocking!
03 Oct 2015
34' - PENALTY slotted by Goromaru!
Samoa 0 Japan 13
03 Oct 2015
32' - Japan once again are able to keep the ball through multiple phases and receive another penalty as Samoa wander offside. Craig Joubert has now given Samoa an official warning regarding continual offside play.
Goromaru will kick at goal. This is straight out in front and a kick of around 40m.
03 Oct 2015
29' - Levave is back on the field after his 10 minutes in the sin-bin.
03 Oct 2015
27' - Excellent defence by Japan as they soak up plenty of Samoan pressure, turn the ball over through Goromaru and then clear to just over half-way.
03 Oct 2015
24' - CONVERSION slotted by Goromaru!
Samoa 0 Japan 10
03 Oct 2015
23' - PENALTY TRY to Japan!
The Japanese scrum was walking towards the Samoan line until Fotuali'i interfered with the ball while still under the feet of the Japanese No. 8, Holani.
Samoa 0 Japan 8
03 Oct 2015
20' - Japan pound away at the Samoan line, Tatekawa should have scored with space to move in but unfortunately he slipped. Japan have another penalty as the Samoans are offside again. Japan opt for a scrum!
03 Oct 2015
18' - YELLOW CARD for Taulafo!
Joubert is taking no nonsense here. He explains that he had warned Samoa and that was foul play.
03 Oct 2015
18' - There might be some more problems for Samoa as Taulafo has taken out a Japanese player catching an up-and-under.
03 Oct 2015
17' - Relief for Samoa as the Japanese are penalised for obstruction in the maul. Pisi clears to the Samoan 10m line.
03 Oct 2015
16' - Japan opt to set up a lineout and go for the try! The crowd erupt into applause! They have another penalty after Taulafo is penalised for collapsing the maul.
Craig Joubert has warned Samoa and Japan set up another lineout.
03 Oct 2015
15' - YELLOW CARD for Levave!
That was deserved, a silly and ultimately dangerous piece of play by the Samoan No. 8.