SAMOA v JAPAN: Rugby World Cup, Pool B

03.10.2015

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Image thanks to en.wikipedia.org

Venue: Stadiummk, Milton Keynes

Pool Standings

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	DIFF	TF	TA	BP	PT
SCOTLAND	2	2	0	0	84	26	58	10	2	2	10
SOUTH AFRICA	2	1	0	1	78	40	38	10	3	3	7
SAMOA	2	1	0	1	31	62	-31	2	8	0	4
JAPAN	2	1	0	1	44	77	-33	3	4	0	4
UNITED STATES	2	0	0	2	32	64	-32	2	2	0	0

Preview
There is no more crucial match in this pool than this match. The winner is most likely to at least gain third place, and win a place at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and then has a chance to make the quarter finals.

Samoa received the South African backlash after the Springbok lost to Japan in the opening round. Samoa has the edge historically but, v Scotland excepted, Japan has lit up this Rugby World Cup. Nothing would please the Japanese players more than to send retiring coach Eddie Jones on his way with that quarter finals spot. This could go either way.

Last Five Encounters
20.05.2014 Japan 33-14 in Tokyo (Friendly)
17.06.2012 Samoa 27-26 in Tokyo (Pacific Nations Cup)
02.07.2011 Samoa 34-15 in Tokyo (Pacific Nations Cup)
30.10.2010 Samoa 13-10 in Tokyo (Friendly)
19.08.2010 Japan 31-23 in Apia (Pacific Nations Cup)

These two teams first met in 1990 in a World Cup qualifying game. Samoa won 37-11

Previous World Cups
03.10.1999 Samoa 43-9 in Wrexham (World Cup, Pool D)

Samoa last Five P 5, W 2, D 1, L 2
26.09.2015 v South Africa L 6-46 in Birmingham (World Cup, Pool B)
20.09.2015 v United States W 25-16 in Brighton (World Cup, Pool B)
03.08.2015 v Fiji L 29-39 in Vancouver (Pacific Nations Cup; Final)
29.07.2015 v Canada W 21-20 in Toronto (Pacific Nations Cup)
24.07.2015 v Fiji D 30-30 in Sacramento (Pacific Nations Cup)

Japan Last Five P 5, 4, L 1
23.09.2015 v Scotland L 10-45 in Gloucester (World Cup, Pool B)
19.09.2015 v South Africa W 34-32 in Brighton (World Cup, Pool B)
05.10.2015 v Georgia W 13-10 in Gloucester (World Cup Warm Up)
29.08.2015 v Uruguay W 40-0 in Tokyo (2nd Test)
22.08.2015 v Uruguay W 30-8 in Tokyo (1st Test(

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Japan 8th, Samoa 13th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Samoa 74.67, Japan 73.01

Prediction: Almost too close to call.Samoa by 1 point. Score 23-22

TEAMS

Japan
15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Akihito Yamada, 13 Male Sau, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Kotaro Matsushima, 10 Kosei Ono, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Michael Leitch (Capt.), 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki
Replacements
16 Takeshi Kizu, 17 Masataka Mikami, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Justin Ives, 20 Amanaki Lelei Mafi, 21 Hendrik Tui, 22 Atsushi Hiwasa, 23 Karne Hesketh
Head Coach: Eddie Jones

Samoa
15 Timothy Nanai-Williams, 14 Kenneth Pisi, 13 Paul Perez, 12 Johnathon Leota, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Faifili Levave,
7 TJ Ioane, 6 Ofisa Treviranus (Capt.), 5 Kane Thompson, 4 Teofilo Paulo,
3 Census Johnston, 2 Ole Avei, 1 Sakaria Taulafo
Replacements
16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Viliamu Afatia, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Jack Lam,
20 Vavae Tuilagi , 21 Vavao Afemai , 22 Michael Stanley, 23 Rey Lee-Lo 
Head Coach: Stephen Betham