RUGBY IN JAPAN NEWSLETTER Vol.9, No.24

RiJ has been working back through the history of Japan tests and this week looks at the Australian Universities tour to Japan in 1956. It has been a busy week for rugby again this week with Japan losing 24-20 to Tonga in the second round of the PNC 2012 in Tokyo on Sunday. In the first game in Tokyo,Samoa got home 29-26 over Fiji. The two losses for Japan in the first two rounds of the PNC also sees Japan drop from 14 to 16 in the IRB Rankings.

Enjoy the read.

Ian can be contacted ianmcdo@apost.plala

CONTENTS

¡ Japan Test Match & Player History Project: 1956

¡ IRB Pacific Nations Cup: Round Two

The Japan Test Match & Player History Project

For nine years now RiJ has been documenting Japanese rugby across various levels of the game. More recently, however, RiJ has recognised the need to accurately document the history of Japanese test match rugby and the players that have represented Japan down through the years. With this in mind, RiJ has embarked on a project to write the history of Japanese international rugby, detail every test that Japan has played and profile every player that has represented Japan.

Australian Universities Tour to Japan 1956

In February and March 1956 the Australian Universities toured Japan playing nine games on tour winning eight and losing one.

Game 1: Australian Universities 34 d All-Waseda University 11, 26 February 1956, Chichibu, Tokyo.

Game 2: Australian Universities 21 d Nihon University 5, 29 February 1956, Chichibu, Tokyo.

Game 3: First Test.

Game 4: Australian Universities 36 d Kansai 14, 7 March 1956, Mizuho, Nagoya.

Game 5: Australian Universities 41 d All-Doshisha University 9, 10 March 1956, Nishi-Kyogoku, Kyoto.

Game 6: All-Meiji University 12 d Australian Universities 11, 15 March 1956, Chichibu, Tokyo.

Game 7: Australian Universities 38 d All-Keio University 14, 18 March 1956, Chichibu, Tokyo.

Game 8: Second Test.

Game 9: Third Test.

Japan 14 – Australian Universities 16. Sunday, 4 March 1956, Heiwadai Stadium, Fukuoka. (Test No.12, Japan Game No.23)

Japan 8 – Australian Universities 19. Wednesday, 21 March 1956, Chichibu, Tokyo. (Test No.13, Japan Game No.24)

Japan 6 – Australian Universities 19. Sunday, 25 March 1956, Hanazono, Osaka. (Test No.14, Japan Game No.25)

NB: Wednesday, 21 March 1956 was a public holiday in Japan for Spring Equinox Day.

With Japan playing no tests in 1954 and 1955, the Australian Universities toured Japan for three tests in 1956.

AU had previously visited Japan pre-war in February 1934 winning the first test 18-8 in Tokyo and then losing the second test 14-9 in Osaka but 22 years later the Australians won eight of the nine tour games including the three tests. The only blemish on the record was the one point loss to All-Meiji University.

The year 1956 was an important year in Australian sporting history with Melbourne hosting the Summer Olympic Games in November and December making it the first time the Olympics was held in the southern hemisphere. The hosts would win 13 Gold medals, including three to track star Betty Cuthbertand another three to swimmer Murray Rose. Japan also participated in Melbourne with gymnast Takashi Ono going home with five of the nineteen Japanese medals including one gold, three silver and a bronze.

On the rugby front in Australia, in May and June 1956 South Africa toured the country for the first time in 19 years with the Springboks on their way to New Zealand for a further four tests. Under coach John Solomonand captain Alan Cameron the Wallabies went down 9-0 in the first test in Sydney and then again lost by the same score in Brisbane in the second test.

There were a number of players who toured Japan with AU who would also turn out against the Springboks including backrowers J.E. Thornett and M. Hughes, wing R. Phelps, centre J.M. O’Neill, centre A.G.R Sheil while other tourists including prop F.M. Elliott, flankers C.R. Wilson and J.F. O’Gorman and tour captain R.M. Tooth would represent the Wallabies over this period.

For the AU series, Chuji Kitajima was back as coach of Japan after having previously acted as national coach twenty years prior for the New Zealand Universities tour to Japan in 1936.

In the first test played at the Heiwadai Stadium in Fukuoka on 4 March 1956, Japan were led by 30-year-old five-eighth Hirotoshi Horiin his one and only test match appearance. With fullback Hidehiko Sato off the field receiving medical attention for 20 minutes of the first half AU ran in a try through lock D.B. Richardson, but centre Haruo Matsuokatouched down for Japan to take the sides to halftime with AU leading 5-3. Japan got out to an 11-8 lead at one point in the second half but a second try to Richardson followed by another to flanker Mac Hughes eventually helped the Australian students secure a narrow 16-14 victory.

In the second test played at the Chichibu ground in Tokyo on the public holiday Wednesday (for Spring Equinox Day), 21 March 1956, No8 Atsushi Fujii was captain in his second and final test as AU scored five tries to one to win 19-8. Japan led 5-0 early in the game after a converted try to prop Kazuo Natsui but AU responded in kind with tries to left wing Rod Phelps and prop T.D. Bolin to take the students to an 8-3 lead at the break. AU dominated the second half scoring three unanswered tries including one to backrower John Thornett.

The third test in Osaka on Sunday, 25 March 1956 produced another victory for AU with the students winning 19-6. Flanker Toshiaki Tsuchiya was captain of Japan in this his sixth test. Tsuchiya would go on to play 12 tests for Japan but this would be the only time he would captain the side. AU scored three tries to none with the only points for Japan coming from the boots of Junzo Aso and Haruo Matsuoka who kicked a penalty each.

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012

Tonga 24 d Japan 20

Tonga 24 – Tries: Alaska Taufa, Taniela Moa and Paula Kaho; Conversions: Kurt Morath 3; Penalty: Kurt Morath d.

Japan 20 – Tries: Hendrik Tui and Ayumu Goromaru; Conversions: Ayumu Goromaru 2; Penalties: Ayumu Goromaru 2.

Competition: 7^th IRB Pacific Nations Cup.
Date: Sunday 10 June 2012.
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.
Japan Test Number: 279.
Kick-off: 2:10 PM local Japan time.
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France) (5^thtest). Assistant Referees: John Lacey (Ireland) and Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan).
Conditions: Sunny becoming cloudy, forecast maximum temperature for Tokyo on the day 27 degrees Celsius. Ground dry, firm and fast.
Attendance: 7,719.

Halftime: Tonga 17 – Japan 10.

Yellow Card: Mafileo Kefu (Tonga No.21, 30 min 2H, shoulder charge in tackle).

PNC Match Points: Tonga 4, Japan 1.

Head-to-head Encounters:

Japan and Tonga have met on fourteen occasions dating back to 1990. Japan have won seven, and Tonga have won seven.

Although Japan won the inaugural meeting between these two nations in 1990, Tonga then won the two tests played in Japan in 1995. Japan and Tonga met twice in the Pacific Rim Championship in 1999 and 2000 for a win apiece. Tonga then won the next two encounters in Kumagaya in 2002 and the inaugural Pacific Nations Cup (Pacific Five Nations) clash in Fukuoka in 2006. However, Japan went on to win the next five tests in a row before Tonga won in Whangarei in September 2011 in their one and only Rugby World Cup meeting to date. Tonga continued the winning trend in Tokyo in 2012.

The highest scoring win for Japan was 44-17 in Tokyo in May 1999, while the biggest winning margin was 27 points in the same test. The longest winning sequence for Japan is five wins in a row between 2007 and 2011.

The highest scoring win for Tonga was 57-16 in Fukuoka in June 2006, while the biggest winning margin was 41 points in the same test. The longest winning sequence for Tonga is three wins in a row between 2000 and 2006.

Nine of the fourteen games have been played in Japan, with five of those at Chichibu in Tokyo while the other five tests have all been played on neutral territory and as yet no tests between these two countries have been played in Tonga.

Official test results for Japan against Tonga

No.	Date	Result (Home – Away)	Venue	Tournament	Japan Test No.	W/D/L (For Japan)
14	10 Jun 2012	Japan 20 – Tonga 24	Chichibu, Tokyo	7thPNC	279	Lost
13	21 Sep 2011	Tonga 31 – Japan 18	Northland Events Centre, Whangarei	7thRWC	272	Lost
12	09 Jul 2011	Japan 28 – Tonga 27	National Stadium, Suva	6thPNC	266	Won
11	26 Jun 2010	Japan 26 – Tonga 23	Apia Park, Apia	5thPNC	258	Won
10	27 Jun 2009	Japan 21 – Tonga 19	Churchill Park, Lautoka	4thPNC	248	Won
9	15 Jun 2008	Japan 35 – Tonga 17	Yurtec Stadium, Sendai	3rdPNC	236	Won
8	02 Jun 2007	Japan 20 – Tonga 17	Coffs Harbour	2ndPNC	222	Won
7	04 Jun 2006	Japan 16 – Tonga 57	Fukuoka	1stPNC	212	Lost
6	26 May 2002	Japan 29 – Tonga 41	Kumagaya		176	Lost
5	03 Jun 2000	Japan 25 – Tonga 26	Chichibu, Tokyo	5thPRC	164	Lost
4	08 May 1999	Japan 44 – Tonga 17	Chichibu, Tokyo	4thPRC	154	Won
3	19 Feb 1995	Japan 16 – Tonga 24	Chichibu, Tokyo		124	Lost
2	11 Feb 1995	Japan 16 – Tonga 47	Mizuho, Nagoya		123	Lost
1	08 Apr 1990	Japan 28 – Tonga 16	Chichibu, Tokyo	1991 RWC qualifier	103	Won

RWC = Rugby World Cup

PNC = Pacific Nations Cup (The PNC was known as the Pacific Five Nations in 2006 only)

PRC = Pacific Rim Championship

Japan (IRB rank 14 (70.45), at 04 June 2012)

Pos.	Name	Club	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
1	Yusuke NAGAE	Ricoh Black Rams	26	171/105	6
2	Takeshi KIZU	Kobe Steelers	23	183/111	13
3	Hiroshi YAMASHITA	Kobe Steelers	26	183/121	12
4	Shinya MAKABE	Suntory Sungoliath	25	192/112	8
5	Hitoshi ONO	Toshiba Brave Lupus	34	192/105	60
6	Yuta MOCHIZUKI	Toshiba Brave Lupus	30	184/105	6
7	Takamichi SASAKI	Suntory Sungoliath	28	184/95	12
8	Hendrik TUI	Panasonic Wild Knights	24	189/109	1
9	Atsushi HIWASA	Suntory Sungoliath	25	166/72	14
10	Kosei ONO	Suntory Sungoliath	25	171/81	11
11	Hirotoki ONOZAWA	Suntory Sungoliath	34	180/85	73
12	Harumichi TATEKAWA	Kubota Spears	22	181/93	6
13	Ryan NICHOLAS	Suntory Sungoliath	33	190/100	37
14	Toshiaki HIROSE (c)	Toshiba Brave Lupus	30	173/81	7
15	Ayumu GOROMARU	Yamaha Jubilo	26	185/97	17
16	Ryuhei ARITA	Coca-Cola West Red Sparks	23	176/100	6
17	Kensuke HATAKEYAMA	Suntory Sungoliath	26	178/111	33
18	Shoji ITO	Kobe Steelers	31	191/97	6
19	Takashi KIKUTANI	Toyota Verblitz	32	187/100	50
20	Jun FUJII	Toshiba Brave Lupus	29	170/77	(5)
21	Tomohiro SEMBA	Toshiba Brave Lupus	29	183/97	6
22	Yasunori NAGATOMO	Suntory Sungoliath	26	176/85	(8)

Head Coach: Eddie Jones (AUS). (6^th test as head coach, for 4 wins and 2 losses.)

Subs
16 subbed 2, 0 min 2H.
17 subbed 3, 11 min 2H.
18 subbed 7, 18 min 2H.
19 subbed 8, 23 min 2H.
20 not used.
21 subbed 10, 33 min 2H.
22 not used.

Tonga (IRB rank 9 (76.63), at 04 June 2012)

Pos.	Name	Club	Age	Hgt/Wgt	Caps
1	Tevita Mailau	Auckland Blues (NZL)	27	183/110	2
2	Ilaisia Ma’asi	Counties Manukau (NZL)	30	184/120	11
3	Kisi Pulu	USA Perpignan (FRA)	34	175/112	28
4	Joshua Afu	Carcassonne (FRA)	25	196/109	9
5	Joseph Tuineau	Montpellier (FRA)	30	203/120	9
6	Sitiveni Mafi	Leicester Tigers (ENG)	22	196/102	5
7	Sione Vaiomounga	Toloa OB	23	188/95	11
8	Viliame Ma’afu	Glasgow Warriors (SCO)	30	186/109	10
9	Taniela Moa (c)	Pau (FRA)	30	189/98	8
10	Kurt Morath	Kubota Spears (JPN)	27	185/87	15
11	Alaska Taufa	Akita Northern Bullets (JPN)	28	189/103	8
12	Sefa Vaka	Toyota Industries Shuttles (JPN)	31	190/107	12
13	Alipate Fatafehi	Lyon (FRA)	27	190/98	13
14	Siale Piutau	Otago Highlanders (NZL)	26	189/85	8
15	Viliami Iongi	Scarlets (WAL)	22	182/93	11
16	Viliami Pola	Timaru (NZL)	24	188/98	(3)
17	Sila Puafisi	Counties Manukau (NZL)	24	183/94	(2)
18	Paula Kaho	Canberra Vikings (AUS)	28	191/107	3
19	Pepa Koloamatangi	Counties Manukau (NZL)	29	190/101	3
20	Tomasi Palu	Timisovava (ROM)	29	175/85	(5)
21	Mafileo Kefu	US Dax (FRA)	29	189/98	2
22	Eddie Paea	Eastern Suburbs (AUS)	23	178/86	(1)

Head Coach: Toutai Kefu.

NB: Cap details for Tonga from the online IRB match preview for this test. Clubs for some players varied with the official tournament programme and so the programme information was used.

Subs
16 not used.
17 not used.
18 subbed 8, 35 min 1H.
19 subbed 6, 23 min 2H.
20 not used.
21 subbed 13, 0 min 2H.
22 not used.

Preview

After four convincing wins in the recent HSBC Asian Five Nations, Japan under new head coach Eddie Jones came up with a first up 25-19 loss to Fiji in their opening game in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012 at the Mizuho Park Rugby Ground in Nagoya on Tuesday evening. It was a similar story for Tonga who lost 20-18 to Samoa in the early game in Nagoya on Tuesday and so with both sides coming off losses the pressure will be on to chalk up a win.

Japan and Tonga met for the first time in April 1990 with the hosts winning 28-16 in a qualifier for the 1991 Rugby World Cup at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo, which, coincidentally is the same venue for this test. The combined Asia and Oceania qualification for the 1991 Rugby World Cup was held at Chichibu in April 1990. The four team round-robin tournament involved Western Samoa, Japan, Tonga and South Korea with Western Samoa and Japan gaining qualification as the top two placed sides.

Tonga visited Japan for the second time in February 1995 on a three game tour that included tests in Nagoya and Tokyo. The third game on this tour was played mid week on Wednesday 15 February at Chichibu in Tokyo with a Japan Selection side beating Tonga 26-5. However, Tonga won both the tests on the tour, 47-16 in Nagoya in the first test and then 24-16 a week later in Tokyo in the second test.

In 1999 and 2000, Tonga again visited Chichibu as part of the Pacific Rim Championship. Japan had their biggest win to date over Tonga in 1999 when they won 44-17, but Tonga had their payback the following year with a one point win. The sixth test between Japan and Tonga in 2002 was, like the previous five tests, also played in Japan with Tonga winning 41-29 in Kumagaya in Saitama prefecture.

In June 2006 Tonga trounced Japan 57-16 in Fukuoka in the inaugural Pacific Nations Cup, or IRB Pacific Five Nations as the tournament was known that year. Tonga only led 15-13 at halftime but ran away with the second half to rattled up what still stands as their biggest win over Japan. Prop Kisi Pulu for Tonga and backrower Takashi Kikutani are the only survivors from that day in the current teams. However, under coach John Kirwan, Japan won the next five years in a row but all that effort was brought undone when Tonga claimed an emphatic 31-18 win in Whangarei last September during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

With a new year now in progress and both sides very different to the ones that turned out in New Zealand last year it is largely back to square one. However, Jones had the luxury of four easy games in the HSBC Asian Five Nations to mould his squad and now they have to do the job against the much tougher island sides.

The front row is made up of Ricoh loosehead Yusuke Nagae, the big man Takeshi Kizu at hooker from the Kobe Steelers and Hiroshi Yamashita replacing Kensuke Hatakeyama on the tighthead side while the second row consists of Shinya Makabe andHitoshi Ono who start together for the sixth test in a row this season. Jones has also tried to keep his backrow intact with Toshiba’s Yuta Mochizuki on the blindside, Takamichi Sasaki on the openside and debutant Hendrik Tui coming in for the injured Michael Leitch at No8. Leitch misses this test with a knee injury opening the way for New Zealand born Tui to make his international debut. Tui spend four years at Teikyo University before joining Panasonic Wild Knights last season but PNC rugby will be a considerable step up for this promising young backrower.

In the backs, Atsushi Hiwasais another young player with a big future ahead of him at halfback as he lines up for his fourteenth cap. Outside him, Jones has kept faith with five-eighth Kosei Ono starting him in the play-making role in all six tests to date this season. At 171cm and 81kg Ono is comparatively small in the modern game but he cut his teeth on New Zealand rugby growing up in Christchurch and he also has the big experience of starting at No.10 against Australia in the 2007 Rugby World Cup to call on. The bigger, more physical Harumichi Tatekawa is at inside centre to partner Ryan Nicholas who replaces Tomohiro Sembain the mid field, while Hirotoki Onozawa on the left wing for test number 73 edges ever so much closer to the Japan cap record currently held by former centre Yukio Motoki on 79 caps. Toshiaki Hirose will captain Japan from the right wing with Ayumu Goromaru playing at fullback can again be expected to carry the goal kicking duties.

On the bench, Ryuhei Aritais the second hooker and Hatakeyama the reserve prop while Shoji Ito and Kikutani are both versatile players able to cover the rest of the forward positions. After starting in the first three tests this season halfback Jun Fujii backs up Hiwasa as he waits his turn on the bench for this test against Tonga. Semba and Yasunori Nagatomo complete the bench.

Tonga too have brought in a new coach with Toutai Kefu replacing Isitolo Maka. The former Wallabies No8 is contracted to Kubota Spears as their coach for the 2012-13 season and is very much a caretaker coach for Tonga in the PNC games they play in Japan. However, Kefu has former Waratahs coach Chris Hickey to help him out in his task.

The nuts and bolts of the successful Tongan side from the 2011 RWC are still there with halfback Taniela Moa taking over from hooker Aleki Lutui as captain while flanker Sione Vaiomounga, No8Viliami Ma’afu, five-eight Kurt Morath, centre Alipate Fatafehi all started against Japan in Whangarei. This core of players is then joined by players of the Tongan Diaspora with players based as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, England, Scotland and even Romania.

Tevita Mailau, Ilaisia Ma’asi and the experienced Pulu make up the front row with Joshua Afu and 203cm Joseph Tuineau are the second row. Sitiveni Mafi, Vaiomounga and Ma’afu form a big and very formidable backrow that will be difficult for Japan to contain. Another one of the strengths in this side is the halfback combination of Moa and Morath with the captain bound to use his size, strength and rugby nous to put it to his opposite number in Hiwasa who is a much younger and smaller man. Morath too has the on field poise and goal-kicking finesse to help Tonga get across the line should this be a tight game. Further out, there will be no relief for the Japanese defence systems with big, powerful and mobile backs looking to line up the likes of Kosei Ono and Tatekawa to run at all day. Wings Alaska Taufa and Siale Piutau along with centres Sefa Vaka and Fatafehi are all around 190cm and 100kg while fullback Viliami Iongi is the second smallest Tongan in the starting line up at 182cm and 93kg.

On the bench, Viliami Pola who plays his rugby with Timaru in the south of New Zealand is the reserve hooker while Sila Puafisiis the spare prop. Canberra based Paula Kaho can play lock or back row with Pepa Koloamatangi also a versatile backrower. Tomasi Paluwho plays with the Timisovava club in Romania is the second halfback while Mafileo Kefu, younger brother of the head coach and Eddie Paea will cover the rest of the backline.

Wrap-up

On a fine, warm afternoon in the nation’s capital, Tonga No.10 Kurt Morath kicked off the fourteenth test played between Tonga and Japan at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Sunday 10 June 2012 in the second round of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012.

With Japan defending the northern scoreboard end of the ground the hosts tried to run the ball through three of four phases in their own twenty-two only to turn over the ball and then be penalised for being off-side at the breakdown. The ever reliable Morath stepped up for his first shot at goal of the afternoon within the first minute of play, but perhaps his radar had not yet warmed up sufficiently as he missed what would normally be a straightforward kick at goal.

Both sides showed the early intent of trying to run the ball in the initial exchanges but it was again Tonga that were given the next opportunity to post points when Japan were penalised in the eighth minute for holding on at the tackle. This time Morath raised the flags to get the visitors out to a 3-0 lead. As the game unfurled under brilliant sunshine the Japanese fifteen were looking smart in attack and when Tonga were penalised by French referee Pascal Gauzere for collapsing a scrum deep in their own half Japan captain Toshiaki Hirose turned down the shot for goal for a close out lineout. The Japan forwards got in the perfect position for a rolling maul from the lineout and there was little Tonga could do to stop the momentum with No8 Hendrik Tui coming up with the try after only thirteen minutes of test match rugby. Fullback Ayumu Goromaru continued his fine form with the boot to land the conversion from five metres in from the right hand touchline to give Japan a 7-3 lead.

From the re-start, lock Shinya Makabe knocked on trying to take the ball two-handed above his head giving Tonga a scrum in a handy position deep in the Japanese half. The ball went 8 to 9 from the back and then halfback and captain Taniela Moa dummied and picked up Alaska Taufa his blindside winger on his left shoulder who crashed through for the five pointer. Morath kicked the easy conversion and Tonga were back in the lead 10-7.

In the 19^th minute Goromaru evened things up at 10-all with his first penalty of the afternoon when Tonga were penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown.

The deadlock did not remain for long as Tonga were presented with a good attacking opportunity a few minutes later when they were handed a scrum feed around the half way area after a Takeshi Kizu throw to a lineout was adjudged not straight. With the scrum set on the 15 metre line the ball quickly found the hands of strapping centre Alipate Fatafehi who broke the line only to be ankle tapped but Moa snapped a long pass left to hooker Ilaisia Ma’asi who propped and steadied to feed off to Moa backing up to finish off the movement. Morath landed the difficult conversion from the left hand touchline to open up a 17-10 lead.

The rest of the half was something of an arm wrestle with neither side able to capitalise on opportunities. The half ended when Morath and then Goromaru attempted long range shots at penalty from their own side of halfway but both kicks dropped short taking the teams to the break with Tonga leading 17-10.

As the second half action got under way, Tui made a powerful midfield break and Tonga were eventually penalised at the ensuing breakdown. In only the second minute of play Goromaru lined up the penalty kick 18 metres in from the right hand touchline and 24 metres out from the Tongan try line but the kick rebounded off the right hand upright back into the field of play and the quick thinking Goromaru was in the right place to scoop up the ball and score the try. He then landed the conversion from almost the same spot he took the penalty a moment before to once again tie up the scoreline at 17-all.

The stalemate continued until just after the hour mark when after a long, sustained Tongan build up on attack Japan were stretched and caught lacking numbers on their right hand flank with replacement backrower Paula Kaho dotting down in the corner for the third Tongan try of the match. Morath once again showed his quality as a kicker with the successful conversion from the left hand touchline to push Tonga in front 24-17.

In the 29^th minute Goromaru narrowed the gap to four points with his second penalty leaving the game wide open with Tonga now only leading 24-20. Things became far more precarious for a rapidly tiring Tongan outfit when one minute later Tongan replacement centre Mafileo Kefuwas sinbinned for a shoulder charge leaving the ‘Ikale Tahi to play out the remainder of the test with fourteen men. Tongan did their utmost to slow the game down, waste time and recycle the ball through their forwards while Japan made crucial handling errors and took the wrong options on attack that let the game slip away from them. To their credit, Tonga had the experience and wherewithal to deny Japan when it mattered and close out the result at 24-20 whereas Japan were left to rue missed chances as they suffered their second loss in a row in the Pacific Nations Cup 2012.

At the post match press conference, Tongan coach Toutai Kefu wrapped things up when he said, “It was good to have a win. Whether we played well or not, it was good to finish on the right side of the scoreboard.”Meanwhile, captain Taniela Moa noted, “The boys were a bit down after (the loss to Samoa on) Tuesday but today out big centres gave us good go forward ball.”

On the other hand, Japan head coach Eddie Jones was far more coy when he started his comments with “In test match rugby one side sings and one side cries and we’re the ones crying!” He went on to say that Japan made too many elementary errors and gave Tonga some ridiculously easy points. He thought the effort of the team was fantastic but that they are making strategic errors.

Japan captain Toshiaki Hirose was also quoted as saying, “It’s a very disappointing result. One more try and we would have won it. We have to clear our heads and start again.”

Jones went on to say that there are a multitude of problems at the moment and that they have to work out the big issues and that they just have to be patient.

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012 Schedule and Results

Round	Date	Team	Score	Team	Kick-off	Venue	Referee (TBC)
One	Tuesday 5 June 2012	Samoa	20-18	Tonga	17:10	Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, Nagoya	Wayne Barnes (RFU)
		Fiji	19-25	Japan	19:10	Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, Nagoya	John Lacey (IRFU)
Two	Sunday 10 June 2012	Fiji	26-29	Samoa	12:10	Chichibu, Tokyo	Wayne Barnes (RFU)
		Japan	20-24	Tonga	14:10	Chichibu, Tokyo	Pascal Gauzere (FFR)
Three	Sunday 17 June 2012	Samoa	-	Japan	14:10	Chichibu, Tokyo	John Lacey (IRFU)
	Saturday 23 June 2012	Tonga	-	Fiji	15:40	Churchill Park, Lautoka	Keith Brown (NZRU)

Round 2

Samoa 29 d Fiji 26

Date: Sunday 10 June 2012.

Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, Tokyo.

Kick-off: 12:10 PM, local Japan time.

Referee:Wayne Barnes (England).

Attendance: 5,906.

Halftime: Samoa 18 – Fiji 13.

Yellow Card: Maselino Paulino (Samoa No.18, 28 min 2H, shoulder charge in tackle).

PNC Match Points: Samoa 4, Fiji 1.

Samoa 29 – Tries: David Lemi 2 and Ben Masoe; Conversion: Ki Anufe ; Penalties: Ki Anufe 4 d.

Fiji 26 – Tries: Nemia Kenatale, Netani Talei and Tuapati Talemaitoga; Conversion: Setareki Koroilagilagi; Penalties: Setareki Koroilagilagi 3.

Preview

Samoa and Fiji meet for the first time on neutral territory in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup when they play at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Sunday 10 June 2012. Four of the previous six meetings were held in Fiji with the other two played in Apia. Fiji have won four of those six encounters, including the 36-18 win in Suva last year but it is always a near impossible task to pick the winner when these two Pacific island neighbours clash. Making the prediction even more difficult is the fact that both teams are in good form after wins in the opening round when Fiji beat tournament hosts Japan 25-19 and Samoa came out on top of Tonga 20-18 in the double header played in Nagoya last Tuesday. There is a lot at stake in this match as the winner will be in a very good position to claim the 2012 PNC title with Samoa playing Japan in Tokyo in their final game next week and Fiji host Tonga in Lautoka the following week. Samoa took the crown in 2010 whereas Fiji are still striving for their first IRB Pacific Nations Cup title.

Wrap-up

In an enthralling display of island style rugby at its best Samoa did enough to claim a 29-26 victory over their neighbours and fierce rivals Fiji at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on Sunday 10 June 2012 in the second round of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012. Both teams scored three tries apiece while both sides could also only convert one of the three five-pointers, meaning the final result came down to the extra penalty Samoan five-eighth Ki Anufe kicked. Fiji had the better of the opening 15 minutes when they got out to a 10-3 lead but quick tries to No8 Ben Masoe and wing David Lemi late in the half eventually saw the Samoans take an 18-13 lead into the half time break. The inspirational captain Lemi extended the lead early in the second period when he toed through a loose ball to score his second try in the tenth minute to open up a ten point margin at 23-13. From that point on, the game well and truly opened up with the natural athletic abilities and rugby talent in both attack and defence on full display. In the 28^thminute of the second half Samoan replacement Maselino Paulino was sinbinned for a shoulder charge with his side leading 26-16. Fiji threw everything at the 14 man Samoan defence and even though captain and No8 Netani Talei narrowed the gap with a try in the 33^rd minute and replacement hooker Tuapati Talemaitoga crossed at the death, dropped ball and passes not sticking ultimately had a say in their inability to overcome the deficit.

Samoa: 1- Sakaria Taulafo, 2- Ole Avei, 3- James Johnston, 4- Faatiga Lemalu, 5- Daniel Chricton, 6- Alafoti Faosiliva, 7- Maurie Fa’asavalu, 8- Ben Masoe, 9- Jeremy Sua, 10- Ki Anufe, 11- David Lemi (c), 12- Paul Williams, 13- Lolo Lui, 14- Paul Perez and 15- Faatoina Autagavaia.

Reserves: 16- Steve Fualau, 17- Logovii Mulipola, 18- Maselino Paulino, 19- Misioka Timoteo, 20- Galuefa Falamoe, 21- Fautua Otto and 22- Ken Pisi.

Head Coach: Stephen Betham (40).

Fiji: 1- Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 2- Seremaia Naureure, 3- Waisea Daveta, 4- Apisai Naikatini, 5- Leone Nakarawa, 6- Josefa Domolailai, 7- Samu Bola, 8- Netani Talei (c), 9- Nemia Kenatale, 10- Setareki Koroilagilagi, 11- Watisoni Votu, 12- Aisake Katonibau, 13- Vereniki Goneva, 14- Aloisio Butonidualevu and 15- Kameli Ratuvou.

Reserves: 16- Tuapati Talemaitoga, 17- Setefano Somoca, 18- Iliesa Ratuva, 19- Malakai Ravulo, 20- Kelemedi Bola, 21- Iliesa Salusalu and 22- Waisea Nayacalevu.

Head Coach: Inoke Male (49).

Samoa v Fiji at the PNC
10 Jun 2012, Samoa 29 d Fiji 26, Chichibu.
09 Jul 2011, Fiji 36 d Samoa 18, Suva.
26 Jun 2010, Samoa 31 d Fiji 9, Apia.
27 Jun 2009, Fiji 19 d Samoa 14, Lautoka.
07 Jul 2008, Fiji 34 d Samoa 17, Lautoka.
19 May 2007, Samoa 8 d Fiji 3, Apia.
24 Jun 2006, Fiji 23 d Samoa 20, Suva.

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012 Table

Team	P	W	L	F	A	+/-	BP1	BP2	Pts
Samoa	2	2	0	49	44	5	-	-	8
Fiji	2	1	1	51	48	3	-	1	5
Tonga	2	1	1	42	40	2	-	1	5
Japan	2	0	2	39	49	-10	-	2	2

Four points for win, two points for draw, one bonus point for scoring four tries or more and one for losing by seven points or less.

IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012 Point Scorers

Name (Country)	T	C	P	Total
Ayumu Goromaru (JPN)	1	3	6	29
Kurt Morath (TGA)	-	3	7	27
Ki Anufe (SAM)	-	3	6	24
Setareki Koroilagilagi (FIJ)	-	3	5	21
David Lemi (SAM)	3	-	-	15
Nalu Tuigamala (SAM)	1	-	-	5
Aisake Katonibau (FIJ)	1	-	-	5
Waisea Nayacalevu (FIJ)	1	-	-	5
Vereniki Goneva (FIJ)	1	-	-	5
Alaska Taufa (TGA)	1	-	-	5
Taniela Moa (TGA)	1	-	-	5
Paula Kaho (TGA)	1	-	-	5
Hendrik Tui (JPN)	1	-	-	5
Ben Masoe (SAM)	1	-	-	5
Nemia Kenatale (FIJ)	1	-	-	5
Netani Talei (FIJ)	1	-	-	5
Tuapati Talemaitoga (FIJ)	1	-	-	5

NB: Japan were awarded a penalty try against Fiji.

IRB ranking on 11 June 2012 - Japan were 16 on 68.34 points. After losing to 16^th placed Fiji in the opening round of the PNC on Tuesday and then losing to 9^th placed Tonga on Sunday, Japan dropped two places from 14 to 16 in the rankings.

French Barbarians

A French Barbarians side made up of players in the France league will play Japan on Wednesday 20 June and Sunday 24 June 2012 with both games at Chichibu in Tokyo.

Autumn Tests

Georgia and also Romania will tour Japan in the autumn of 2012.