Defending champions Samoa start 2011 Pacific Nations Cup with win over Japan in Tokyo - Rugby
Defending champions Samoa have successfully opened their International Rugby Board (IRB) 2011 Pacific Nations Cup campaign after they defeated the tournament hosts, Japan, on Saturday July 2, at Prince Chichibu Stadium, Tokyo. Samoa beat the hosts 34 – 15,
in front of approximately 10,000 spectators.
Japan started the match strongly, however, their discipline and ball handling errors cost them the game. Japan’s inside centre, Ray Nicholas, missed a penalty during the first minute of the game and Samoa in turn capitalised on the scoring opportunity as
their left-winger, Alesana Tuilagi, scored his first try of the match in the 2nd minute to put the defending champions in the lead.
Samoa’s fullback, James So’oialo, followed with a conversion to take the scorecard reading 7 – nil. Japan got the chance to get some points on the board courtesy of a penalty in the seventh minute of the game. However, their fullback, Shaun Webb, failed
to convert on the opportunity.
Samoa on the other hand increased their lead courtesy of the So’oialo’s 12th minute penalty. A few minutes later Tuilagi scored his second try of the game, which was followed by So’oialo’s conversion to take their lead to 17 points.
In the 20th minute, Japan was able to reduce the lead courtesy of their number eight Ryu Holani’s try but Nicholas missed on the conversion. In the 28th minute, Nicolas missed his second penalty of the game as the hosts were still trailing
by 12 points. Japan finally scored their first penalty in the 32nd minute courtesy of their fly half Shaun Webb’s penalty.
Samoa extended their lead thanks to flanker Manaia Salavea’s 34th minute try. So’oialo’s followed with his conversion to take the scorecard reading 24 – 8, which remained the same until the end of the first-half.
Samoa started the second-half aggressively and secured a penalty in the 3rd minute of the second-half. So’oialo failed to score the penalty as Japan retained ball possession. Japan’s left winger, Takehisa Usuzuki, scored their second try of the
game in the sixth minute of the half. Webb followed with his conversion to reduce their deficit to just nine points.
The Japanese seemed like they got a second wind and played tough defence and giving the Samoans a tough time. Eventually, Samoa’s outside centre, George Pisi, scored the teams fourth try in the 19th minute of the second-half. So’oialo converted
successfully to extend their lead by 19 points. So’oialo kicked another penalty during the 65th minute of the game to take the scorecard reading 34 – 15.
Both teams tried their hard to score in the remaining time but failed to do so. So’oialo finished the match with 14 points, which included two penalties and four conversions.
Samoa will play their next match of the IRB 2011 Pacific Nations Cup against the Fiji at National Stadium, Suva on Saturday, July 9.
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