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Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of this afternoon's match between Samoa and Japan in Milton Keynes.
Fair to say Stadium MK absolutely loved that! But that's the fun and frivolity out the way - here we go!
... and of course, with this being Samoa, with the anthems done it's now time for the Sivi Tau. A bit of a buzz sweeps round the bowl in anticipation.
The teams are out at a packed MK Stadium -- it's anthem time!
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| 1 |
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Samoa kick off deep into the Japan 22 and a clearing kick gives Samoa the first lineout, 10 metres inside the Japan half.
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| 2 |
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Interesting crossfield kick from Kosei Ono is picked out the air by Alesana Tuilagi who then gets the head down and barrels through a couple of tacklers. Fearsome stuff, as is the family way.
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| 4 |
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Japan making some inroads in the Samoan midfield. It's all a bit sideways at the moment though, the Samoa defensive line refusing to be breached by the angled running that Japan have used so brilliantly in this World Cup so far.
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| 6 |
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Samoa steal a Japan lineout but the clearing kick isn't great and Japan charge deep into the 22. The first real chance of the game developing here. And it's a superb try! No it's not! It's been ruled out for a forward pass, referee Craig Joubert showing that's he's quite happy being deeply unpopular in Milton Keynes! The crowd are booing that, they were deep in celebrations not realising the try -- which would have been for Japan fullback Ayumu Goramaru -- had been disallowed. Instead, Japan get a penalty for an earlier infringement. Right in front of the posts.
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| 7 |
3 - 0 |
Boom. Job done. Three points, Goramaru.
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| 9 |
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Samoa seem disrupted by the organisation of the Japanese, especially at the breakdown. Another penalty conceded for offside, albeit deep in Japan territory. Booted into touch, lineout Japan.
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| 11 |
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Another offside penalty against Samoa, who are all at sea in a rolling maul. Goramaru will have a pop at goal, from wide on the right, 44 metres away.
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| 12 |
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Pulled it to the left. Tricky angle and distance for Goramaru, but a chance gone and Samoa should breathe a sigh of relief for that. They need to get a foothold in this game quickly, though.
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| 13 |
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Even Tim Nanai-Williams, probably Samoa's best performer so far in this tournament, is making mistakes, a simple dropped pass giving Japan a scrum in opposition territory again.
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| 14 |
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Nanai-Williams is dragged into touch as he tries to escape pressure on his own 22. Japan need to make this superiority begin to count on the scoreboard.
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| 15 |
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Penalty against Japan for not releasing. Probably the first mistake they've made in this game. It's being pulled back by the TMO for a late tackle by Samoa No.8 Faifili Levave. He also didn't use his arms at all in the tackle. Sin bin time for Levave and this has been a shoddy opening from Samoa.
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| 17 |
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Japan look to take advantage of playing against 14 with a driving lineout. It's another penalty for collapsing the maul and the referee has warned Samoa that if this continues, more punishment will follow.
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| 18 |
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Japan let Samoa off the hook by obstructing from the lineout's rolling maul. Silly mistake when a try was beckoning. If the scoreboard reflected play so far, Japan would be out of sight already.
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| 19 |
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Another penalty against Samoa, this time for taking the man out in the air. Zak Taulafo, who has just been given a warning before committing that penalty, is in the bin as well. "I can't keep talking to you about your discipline," says referee Joubert. 15 v 13 in Japan's favour.
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| 20 |
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Japan looking to make their numerical advantage count. Burrowing towards the line, Samoa trying desperately to hold out. Another drive, no yardage gained. Another pick and go, no dice. Another, no dice. Japan start swinging it right, then left then Tatekawa should surely score a try -- but trips over his own feet and knocks on! They'll go back for a scrum in front of the posts, Japan put-in.
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| 21 |
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| 22 |
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Literally nothing happening. Samoa doing a good job of wasting some time while they're two men light, and Japan doing a pretty terrible job by allowing it to happen.
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| 23 |
10 - 0 |
Ah, there we go. Joubert has grown suitably tired with Samoa collapsing the scrum and it's a penalty try. Absolutely begging to be given for what feels like an eternity. Samoa a total mess.
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| 24 |
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Japan 83% possession, 89% territory. Good grief.
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| 27 |
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Samoa finally start getting some territory back, and even some possession, but it's not all that threatening a period and Japan turn the ball over and boot into touch.
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| 28 |
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Outstanding hands from Japan wing Akihito Yamada to snatch a swirling ball out of the air from a crossfield kick around halfway. He then spills it but Samoa blow their chance to break with a knock on. Zak Taulafo emerges from the bin, 15 plays 14.
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| 29 |
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| 30 |
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Samoa back to full strength. Mind you, given the way they've played so far, that doesn't seem too apt a description.
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| 32 |
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Penalty conceded by Samoa for offside. Another chat for Samoan skipper Ofisa Treviranus from Craig Joubert. "There is no respect for the offside line. This is an official warning. If there's another offside in the near future, another player goes to the bin." Stern.
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| 33 |
13 - 0 |
Goromaru will have a fourth kick at goal, much closer to the middle of the field this time. This should be automatic -- it is. Three more points for Japan, and "nil" flatters Samoa.
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| 34 |
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Stunning tackle in midfield from Koliniashi Holani, it stops a Samoan move in its tracks and in the ensuing bedlam it's knocked on by Samoa.
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| 35 |
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| 36 |
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Japan dominate a scrum so ferociously that the ball is just left sitting in the middle of the park with nobody near it. Japan building nicely again, in the Samoan midfield.
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| 38 |
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Another obstruction at the breakdown by Japan -- a penalty that has thwarted them a couple of times now in threatening situations. Samoa clear for touch and will be hoping to get to the break without any further damage to the scoreline or their playing numbers.
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| 39 |
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Japan again force a turnover in the loose and a beautiful punt forward forces some drama as Tusa Pisi has to belt back to his own goalline under pressure from Male Sa'u. Nothing proving easy for the Samoans today.
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| 40 |
18 - 0 |
Seconds ticking down towards half-time. Tanaka attempting to orchestrate one last attack by Japan, who glide towards the Samoa 22. They have numbers out right if they can ship it, but it's Luke Thompson who pushes the gainline forward. They're on the five-metre line now -- and that could be a stunning try! What a brilliant take, turn and dive for the line by Akihito Yamada. It's referred to the TMO for a foot in touch, but no issues there. Try awarded, and in a wonderful twist of irony, the forward pass in that try was much more pronounced than the one that saw Japan's early try disallowed.
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| 40+1 |
20 - 0 |
And Goramaru puts an exclamation point on Japan's dominance with an absolutely superb conversion from the right wing. Sweet as a nut. Wow. Samoa in disarray, Japan utterly dominant, and they're giving themselves a shot of a quarterfinal spot.
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| 40+2 |
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The teams are back out on the field -- goodness knows what must have been said in the Samoan dressingroom at half-time.
He's right - it was 89% & 83% at one stage
More from Martyn Thomas at Stadium MK:
"Samoa could have afforded themselves a lie-in this morning seeing as they were staying in the Stadium MK hotel last night, but someone should probably go and wake them up for the second half. Cheered on by a sea of red and white in another Milton Keynes sell out, Japan ripped into their more illustrious opponents from the first whistle, playing with an intensity and tempo with which the Pacific Islanders have been unable to cope. Ill-discipline and a lack of composure has cost Stephen Betham's side too, as both Faifili Levave and Sakaria Taulafo have spent time in the sin bin. But take nothing away from Japan they have been superb and richly deserve their 20-0 half-time lead."
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| 40 |
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And we're back in action.
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| 42 |
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Japan are continuing to take the game to Samoa, some thunderous running which is what the Samoans are usually famed for. Instead, they are on the receiving end, barrelling backwards off tackles like rubber balls off walls.
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| 44 |
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Penalty -- the first of the second half -- against Samoa for wheeling the scrum. Their isn't a facet of the game that has gone well for them so far.
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| 45 |
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Japan building in the Samoa 22, a rolling maul going a bit static but then a penalty conceded by the Samoans (offside, again, obviously). There's then a minor fracas as Fumiaki Tanaka pulls the shirt from Kahn Fotuali'i's back. Referee Joubert lets it lie, but there's not much more indiscipline he's going to tolerate. Easy penalty for Goramaru to come.
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| 47 |
23 - 0 |
And Goramaru lands it as expected. Substitutions beginning to be made more frequently - not sure Samoa can make quite enough changes. Can everyone come off?
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| 48 |
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A response, at last, from Samoa. They get inside Japan's five-metre line for the first time in the match. Pisi pushes towards the line, but as soon as he passes it's knocked on. Joubert takes them back eventually for that drop, and Japan will look to clear their lines from the scrum.
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| 49 |
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To say Japan's forwards have dominated doesn't do them justice. Another penalty in the scrum against Samoa. They're going to be down a man again soon if they're not careful.
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| 51 |
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Gorgeous hands on display in the Japan backs, beautiful interchange of passes and they're into the Samoan half. Nanai-Williams boots clear and rolls his eyes in ... desperation? Frustration? Bewilderment? All of the above?
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| 52 |
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Japan are really beginning to flow now. Akihito Yamada, he of the wonderful finish for the second try in the first half, has looked tremendous at times when he's been given a chance out wide.
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| 54 |
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Samoa start moving in the right direction again and Nanai-Williams offloads superbly, one-handed. As soon as the play tightens up, however, Samoa are turned over and are scampering back towards their own line to chase the clearing kick. Well dealt with by Paul Perez, however, who bounces off a couple of tackles and makes sure the danger is cleared.
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| 55 |
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Huge roar from the Milton Keynes crowd as Nanai-Williams tries to run out of his own 22 and is wrestled down like a rag doll, knocking on in the process. He's being made to look very ordinary today. However, a horrible injury to a Japan player has stopped the play. It looked as though Akihito Yamada was knocked unconscious as he made a diving tackle on Rey Lee-Lo. The stretcher has been called for and a whispering murmur whips round Stadium MK. A lot of concern being shown by the medical staff for Yamada, who has been one of Japan's most exciting players today. A very sad sight as he's lifted on to the stretcher and strapped down safely. It looked like he took a nasty knee to the back of the head/neck area. Very concerning when a player has to receive that nature of treatment.
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| 56 |
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| 57 |
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A bit unfortunate for Samoa as a tackle by skipper Ofisa Treviranus slips up and rips down Keita Inagaki by the neck. Not what was intended, but a penalty nonetheless. Japan will take another three points from Goramaru. Might they start entertaining the bonus point soon though? They need another two tries, and this match is won (yes, really, I've gone and said it).
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| 58 |
26 - 0 |
Goromaru - penalty goal
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| 59 |
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Samoa just can't do anything right. A simple move on halfway breaks down with a knock-on. This has been a terrible performance. Big roar goes round the ground as one of the stars of the tournament so far, Amenaki Mafi, comes on at No.8 having recovered from the injury he sustained against Scotland in Japan's previous match.
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| 60 |
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| 62 |
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Japan stealing the ball at will at the breakdown, and they're on the five-metre line once again. Only now they've turned it over a little sloppily and Paul Perez -- who looks desperate to run, like a greyhound too long in his kennel -- is belting down the left flank. Samoa start to ship it right and Lee-Lo makes ground. Down the other flank and now it's Perez again, skips past one, past another, TRY!!! That was superb. Where did that come from, Samoa? Where has that been?
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| 63 |
26 - 5 |
The conversion is off the post and the crowd ooh and aah. Seems they wouldn't mind this turning into a contest for 15 minutes or so.
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| 66 |
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Japan can stick this up the jumper a little bit now, and that's what they are looking to do. Their forwards make good ground in Samoan territory and phase after phase of recycling is just what the doctor ordered. Not only have Japan been a committed and talented bunch in this World Cup, they're game-smart too.
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| 68 |
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It was only a matter of time. Penalty against Samoa at the breakdown, off feet at the ruck. And just as I'm crediting them for being game-smart, they decide to take the points. Hmm, not sure about that at all. They need to land the bonus point to really put the frighteners on Scotland (and possibly South Africa) for second place. Without it, they can only get to a maximum of 13 points in Pool C, and that might not be enough.
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| 69 |
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And just to drive the point home, Goramaru misses the penalty.
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| 70 |
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Tim Nanai-Williams shows his class with a brilliant take of a mark in his own 22, sliding along to a wickedly spinning ball. Just catching it cleanly was a feat in itself.
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| 72 |
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Knock on by Japan at the breakdown. They've lost a little bit of impetus after that Samoa try.
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| 73 |
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Samoa tap and run from a penalty at a scrum. They're finally finding their feet in this game, just the 73 minutes too late.
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| 74 |
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| 75 |
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Samoa concede their 16th penalty of the match, taking out the scrum-half at the ruck. Japan kick for touch. They have five minutes to score two tries for the bonus point.
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| 76 |
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| 77 |
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Japan have conceded as many penalties in the last 10 minutes as they did in the first 60-odd. Perhaps a little bit of tiredness sneaking in at this late stage.
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| 78 |
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A comical taking out at the ruck by Samoa forces Craig Joubert to ask his TMO "Did you get a number there?" Somebody's going to the bin. "That was cynical," he tells Filo Paulo as he becomes the third Samoan to be yellow-carded today. Terrible discipline.
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| 79 |
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A clearing kick by Samoa is semi-charged down and Japan will have one last push for a try. They're not going to get two tries, though, and the bonus point will elude them. How pivotal might that be in the final reckoning?
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| 80 |
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Final play of the game, and it will begin with a Samoan scrum. A knock-on by Japan gives Samoa the ball, and then eventually it is Japan who pick up the ball, smack it into touch, and take the victory.
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| 80+1 |
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Congratulations to Japan, who have a chance of progressing to the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup when they face the USA in their final match. Commiserations to Samoa, who are officially out of the tournament with a game to play.
Martyn Thomas sums up today's game at Stadium MK: "This was a game won in the first 20 minutes, as Japan tore into their opponents and Samoa were unable to live with their energetic approach. The Brave Blossom were unable to take full advantage of a five-minute spell which saw Faifili Levave and then Sakaria Taulafo sin-binned. But although they only garnered seven points in 13+ minutes they set a platform from which they would storm 20 points clear by the end of the half. The second period was much more of a procession as Japan made sure of the win with a couple of penalties and Samoa belatedly showed what they can do with a fine breakaway try. Eddie Jones' side had done the hard work in the first 40 though and another record Milton Keynes crowd rose to its feet as Japan's win was confirmed. They were equally as vocal as Ayumu Goromaru again picked up man of the match honours. How far can he and his team go now?"
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| 80+2 |
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And we end this commentary with today's match report. But stay with ESPN for all of the reaction from this match, plus live coverage of South Africa v Scotland and tonight's titanic tussle at Twickenham: England v Australia.
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