IRB Junior World Championship
Samoa secure return to Junior World Champs
ESPNscrum Staff
June 6, 2011
Samoa coach John Schuster © Getty Images
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Samoa beat Japan 31-24 to win the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy and secure qualification to the 2012 IRB Junior World Championships, which are due to be held in South Africa.

Samoan fullback Peter Schuster scored the winning try with the scores level at 24-24 and the game set to head into sudden death.

Samoa started the final on the back-foot as Japan took a 17 point lead with tries from wing Masakatasu Hikosaka and hooker Yoshikatsu Hikosaka, but in typical Samoan fashion, reminiscent of their Sevens counterparts, they struck back by exploiting broken play.

Tries from Jordan Taufua, Robert Lilomaiava and Faavae Faavae re-addressed the balance in Samoa's favour just before half-time as they led 19-17.

Wing Viliamu Alauni dotted the ball down to make the score 24-17 to the Samoans, but Japan's prop Mao Enoki levelled the scores before Schuster's late heroics.

Winning coach John Schuster said: "I felt that for us the key was when we managed to string phases, managed to make no mistakes and control the ball better. Japan started the game very well but we were also making a lot of mistakes in the first quarter, missing try-scoring opportunities.

"We were very lucky to win it. Japan played extremely well today; they had a well-structured game, forcing us into many mistakes. We feel very lucky to have won."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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