Clinical Goromaru stars as Japan close in on quarters

Date

10/8/2015 6:39:47 AM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Japan kept alive their chances of reaching the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals with a comprehensive 26-5 win against Samoa in their Pool B match on Saturday. Fullback Ayumu Goromaru's clinical kicking kept Japan in complete control as he took his tournament-leading points tally to 45.

The only sour note was an apparent head injury to right winger Akihito Yamada the scorer of Japan's second try. He went off early in the second half after taking a knee to the head when making a brave wraparound tackle on centre Paul Perez as he surged down the left.

He looked to be knocked out cold lying motionless on the ground for several minutes as he was treated by medical staff and then taken away on a stretcher.

It took Samoa 63 minutes to score. Following a turnover inside Samoa's 22 a fine sweeping move was finished emphatically by Perez in the left corner. Japan came into this tournament with only one win in Cup history. Now it has two in this Cup. Following the stunning 34-32 win against South Africa on the opening weekend Japan are eyeing a first quarterfinal berth.

The Brave Blossoms led Samoa 20-0 at halftime which was good news for most of the 29000 fans setting a stadium record at Milton Keynes. They roared when Yamada dived into right corner on the first-half buzzer and Goromaru nailed a difficult conversion from wide right.

Japan's talisman against the Springboks had already converted an earlier penalty try and added two penalties to punish Samoa's indiscipline. He was on his game bouncing back from a poor kicking performance in a 45-10 loss to Scotland last week. It was a totally one-sided affair for Japan this time and at one stage it was 15 vs. 13 with two Samoans sin-binned.

No. 8 Faifili Levave was penalised for a late shoulder charge in the 16th minute and referee Craig Joubert sent prop Sakaria Taulafo to the sin-bin in the 19th after Samoa conceded two defensive penalties in two minutes.

It could have been a heavier defeat. Goromaru had an early try ruled out after a forward pass from center Male Sau.

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