Big crowd see Japan XV fall to Maori

KOBE, Japan (Nov. 1) – Played in front of the biggest domestic crowd to watch a Japan representative team since 2004, a Japan XV went down 61-21 to the Maori All Blacks on Saturday.

The 21,234 in attendance at Noevir Stadium were treated to a spectacle of running rugby as both sides looked to run the ball at every opportunity.

In the end though, the power and physicality of the visitors at the breakdown was to prove the difference between the two sides as the Maori made the most of a number of turnovers to score eight tries to Japan’s three.

Chris Eves opened the scoring for the Maori in the seventh minute before Ihaia West knocked over two penalties to make it 11-0.

Jason Emery crossed in the 20th minute and Sean Polwart three minutes later and with West adding the extras it was suddenly a 25-0 game.

Japan struck back with a penalty try following a well-executed rolling maul but it was the Maori who ended the half strongest with Emery crossing for his second and West adding the conversion and a penalty to make it 35-7 at the break.

The second half was just six minutes old when West extended the lead with a try that started deep in the Maori 22 before Amanaki Leilei Mafi gave the locals something to cheer about when he crossed just three minutes after coming onto the field as a replacement.

But the Maori responded quickly with Nehe Milner-Skudder and Charlie Ngatai touching down to make it 54-14.

A second penalty try for Japan was converted by Ayumu Goromaru (his third successful kick of the day) but it was the Maori who closed out the scoring with James Lowe showing his pace to cross from halfway and West adding the conversion to finish with 26 points on the day.