Japan Fall to Argentina in Joseph’s 1st Game in Charge

TOKYO (Nov. 5) – Japan went down 54-20 to Argentina on Saturday at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in the first game of the Jamie Joseph coaching era.

The Pumas ran in seven tries to two by the Brave Blossoms in a game that thrilled a crowd of 18,235.

Amanaki Lelei Mafi and Lomano Lava Lemeki scored Japan’s tries with Yu Tamura kicking two conversions and two penalty goals.

For the visitors, Nicolas Sanchez scored two tries, three penalties and five conversions, Matias Moroni and Santiago Cordero both bagged a brace of five-pointers and Tomas Cubelli also touched down.

Japan started the brighter of the two sides and Tamura banged over his first penalty in the sixth minute.

But a great counter-attack saw Moroni go over in the 12th minute to give Argentina a lead they would never relinquish.

A second penalty from Tamura closed the gap to two points, before Sanchez scored 13 unanswered points via a try, conversion and two penalties to make it 21-6 at halftime.

That lead was soon increased as Cordero finished off a good break from Matias Orlando and Moroni made the most of a turnover from Joaquin Tuculet to make it 35-6.

Mafi’s try in the 52nd minute was no more than he deserved following another good performance for his country.

But Argentina hit back with Sanchez scoring a sensational length-of-the-field try and Cordero and Cubelli also crossing the chalk as the visitors showed just what a good attacking side they are.

But for the home crowd the best was saved for last as Lomano Lava Lemeki went over in the 80th minute following some good work from Tamura, Harumichi Tataekawa and Timothy Lafaele.