USA 18
Japan 28
JAPAN ROUNDED OFF a memorable Rugby World Cup campaign with a third win from four games, beating the United States 28-18 as the curtain came down on the pool stage at Kingsholm.
Eddie Jones’ men earned a place in rugby folklore with a sensational 34-32 triumph over South Africa in their opening match, yet came into Sunday’s game with no hope of reaching the quarter-finals following Scotland’s victory over Samoa at St James’ Park the previous day.
Nevertheless, Japan can look back with immense pride on their displays – having become the first team in history to be knocked out at the pool stage after claiming three victories.
Their latest triumph was relatively routine, tries from Kotaro Matsushima, Yoshikazu Fujita and Amanaki Mafi helping establish a comfortable cushion that was reduced in the closing stages.
The USA, who finish the tournament pointless, were the first to score through a fifth-minute penalty from Alan MacGinty, but it was Japan who claimed the opening try – and a classy one at that.
Fujita made the initial break down the right wing, before the ball was worked quickly through the hands for Matsushima to go over in the left corner, with Ayumu Goromaru converting.
Japan surprisingly found themselves behind when a delightful cut-out pass from Chris Wyles enabled Takudzwa Ngwenya to cross.
Yet there was an instant response as Fujita was driven over for Japan’s second try upon the USA failing to collect the restart. Another Goromaru conversion made it 14-8 and the full-back split the posts with a long-range penalty after 33 minutes to become the first Japanese player to pass 50 points in a World Cup.
Goromaru and MacGinty exchanged further three-pointers before the contest was effectively put to bed just after the hour mark.
American prop Eric Fry was yellow carded for kicking the ball out of a ruck and Japan opted to go for touch before scoring easily from the resulting lineout through Mafi.
Saracens full-back Wyles claimed a consolation score in the right corner following a long pass from MacGinty, with the USA still down to 14 men. MacGinty’s conversion looked set to ensure the USA would claim their first and only pool-stage point as they moved to within seven of their opponents.
However, Japan earned another penalty with five minutes remaining and the reliable Goromaru – so impressive throughout the tournament – made no mistake.
USA
Tries: Takudzwa Ngwenya, Chris Wyles (1 each)
Conversions: AJ MacGinty (1)
Penalties: AJ MacGinty (2)
Japan
Tries: Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Kotaro Matsushima, Yoshikazu Fujita (1 each)
Conversions: Ayumu Goromaru (2)
Penalties: Ayumu Goromaru (3)
USA: Chris Wyles (capt); Takudzwa Ngwenya, Seamus Kelly, Thretton Palamo, Zach Test, AJ MacGinty, Mike Petri; Eric Fry, Zach Fenoglio, Titi Lamositele, Hayden Smith, Greg Peterson, Al McFarland, Andrew Durutalo, Samu Manoa.
Replacements: Phil Thiel, Oli Kilifi, Chris Baumann, Cam Dolan, John Quill, Danny Barrett, Niku Kruger, Folau Niua.
Japan: Ayumu Goromaru; Yoshikazu Fujita, Harumichi Tatekawa, Craig Wing, Kotaro Matsushima, Kosei Ono, Fumiaki Tanaka; Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie, Hiroshi Yamashita, Luke Thompson, Justin Ives, Michael Leitch (capt), Michael Broadhurst, Ryu Koliniasi Holani.
Replacements: Takeshi Kizu, Masataka Mikami, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Shinya Makabe, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Hendrik Tui, Atsushi Hiwasa, Karne Hesketh.