Last year’s losing Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup finalists Japan scored five tries in a second-half exhibition of attacking rugby to ease away from Tonga and book their place in next weekend’s title decider in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a confidence-boosting 62-24 victory.
Japan had conceded an average of just 18 points in their Pacific Nations Cup pool-phase matches against Canada and USA. By the end of a thoroughly entertaining first half against Tonga, they had shipped 19.
But although the ‘Ikale Tahi were firmly in the hunt for a first win over the Brave Blossoms in 10 years at the break, they were overwhelmed by Japan’s pace and attacking smarts in the second.
A disappointed Tonga captain Ben Tameifuna later admitted: “We’ve worked pretty hard the past couple of weeks. We got points in the first half, but couldn’t capitalise in the second.”
Back-row Foto Lokotui had got Tonga off to the perfect start, scoring the game’s first try after six minutes, as he sheared off the back of a lineout maul to touch down, moments after being denied by the width of a defender’s hand.
Tameifuna crashed over from a five-metre tap penalty in the 26th minute and Veikoso Poloniati was unstoppable as Tonga pulled out a trick five-metre lineout move two minutes before the break.
Although Japan had conceded 19 first-half points, they scored 21 in an end-to-end opening 40. They hit back within five minutes of Lokotui’s opening as quick-thinking at a free-kick saw prop Shuhei Takeuchi burst through tackles and feed supporting hooker Hayate Era.
Number eight Amato Fakatava then broke off the back of a disintegrating scrum to score their second – his fifth of the tournament – to take Japan into the lead before the end of the opening quarter. And captain Warner Dearns scored his fourth in this year’s competition shortly after the half-hour.
Centre Dylan Riley extended Japan’s lead again in the early exchanges of the second half, collecting a chip over the defensive line to score under the posts in the 42nd minute.
By now, Japan looked in control, mixing pacy ball-in-hand play, with smart use of altitude to kick Tonga deep into their own territory. Seungsin Lee added a penalty in the 51st minute.
Another barnstorming run from player-of-the-match Takeuchi, who clocked up the metres, gave Shinobu Fujiwara the perfect opportunity to touch down after 55 minutes.
Tonga – down to 14 with Tupou Afungia in the bin – hit back. Patrick Pellegrini’s perfect skip pass gave John Tapueluelu just enough room to score in the corner shortly after the hour.
But dreams of a first win over Japan since 2015 was snuffed out 10 minutes later when Ben Gunter’s offload found Kenji Sato to score in the corner. Keijiro Tamefusa then powered over from close range to take his side past 50 points for the second time in the tournament — and a penalty try as Riley was tackled without the ball as he raced on to his own opportunistic kick ahead took them past 60 points.
Dearns was pleased with how his side fronted up: “Playing against Tonga is always going to be physical,” he said. “We did enough to match them and were able to play our rugby.”
Looking ahead to next weekend’s final in Salt Lake City, he added: “It’s always exciting playing finals footy. We’re really looking forward to facing whoever we have to play.”
