Japan fall to All Blacks

TOKYO (Nov. 2) – Japan were beaten 54-6 by New Zealand at a sold-out Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground on Saturday. But they showed that they are closing the gap on the top tier nations with a battling performance, that was only marred by a few handling errors and turnovers.

The world champions ran in eight tries, four in each half, to ensure there was no upset and pick up their third official test-match win over the Brave Blossoms.

After pretty even opening, that even saw Japan win a tighthead scrum, Charles Piutau made the most of Japan’s inability to field a high kick, the All Blacks wing racing away to cross in the ninth minute with Dan Carter adding the conversion.

The hosts responded immediately though with a pair of penalties from Ayumu Goromaru to close the gap to 7-6 and have the sold-out crowd believing they were about to witness something special, only for the All Blacks to hit back with three tries in five minutes through Sam Cane, Ben Smith and Richie McCaw.

And with Carter’s radar working New Zealand led 28-6 at the break.

The visitors increased their lead 10 minutes after the break when Jeremy Thrush rumbled over and he was followed onto the scoresheet by Frank Halai and Beauden Barrett, before Piutau rounded of an impressive performance with his second five-pointer of the day, Carter adding a further conversion and Barrett two.

The game almost ended on a high for Japan when Kenki Fukuoka dived over in the corner a minute after the final hooter. But the TMO ruled the wing had been forced into touch by McCaw before touching down.

Japan travel to Europe on Sunday and face Scotland in Edinburgh on Nov. 9. They then take on Gloucester on March 12 and Russia in North Wales three days later, before flying to Madrid to take on Spain on Nov. 23.