Joseph Disappointed With Loss but Happy with Tour

TOKYO (Nov. 27) Japan head coach Jamie Joseph said he was disappointed his side had ended their November tests with a loss to Fiji. But he said the trip to Europe had been a “great tour” that had “unearthed some new talent.”

Japan lost 38-25 to the Flying Fijians at Stade de la Rabine on Saturday despite having a one-man advantage for 58 minutes of the game after flanker Peceli Yato was shown a yellow and then red card.

“It’s disappointing to finish the tour like this. We didn’t have the same passion as the last few weeks,” he said. “We were very flat in the first half and gave Fiji the first couple of tries by our mistakes.”

Albert Vulivuli, Metuisela Talebula and Levani Botia crossed the chalk and former NEC Green Rockets wing Nemani Nadolo added three conversions as Fiji led 21-6 at halftime, Japan’s points coming from two penalties by Yu Tamura.

Botia added a second five-pointer shortly after the break and Nadolo powered over in the 51st minute as Fiji extended their lead.

Japan fought back with Kotaro Matsushima bagging a brace of tries and Malgene Ilauna also going over to close the gap to 10 points on the back of two conversions from Tamura.

But it was Fiji who had the last say with Nadolo kicking a penalty in the final minute.

“We lost the game today but we have to learn the lesson of how we can be better,” Joseph said. “But we have come a long way in four weeks. Half the team are new and never played for Japan.”