Japan falls to United States

SACRAMENTO, California (July 24) – Japan went down to their first loss in this year’s Pacific Nations Cup as they fell 23-18 to the United States at Bonney Field.

A superb try by Akihito Yamada and a well-worked five pointer from Ryu Koliniasi Holani either side of the break had seen the Brave Blossoms lead 18-9. But the Eagles – who face Japan in Pool B at Rugby World Cup 2015 – finished stronger and scored 14 unanswered points.

“We performed well but America were very physical and strong and were more desperate to win,” said captain Kensuke Hatakeyama immediately after the game which was played before a good vocal crowd.

AJ MacGinty scored the first of his six penalty goals in the sixth minute as the hosts dominated possession and territory and he added a second 12 minutes later.

Harumichi Tatekawa finally got the scoreboard ticking over for Japan when he banged over a penalty in the 28th minute, only for MacGinty to kick his third as Japan were again penalized.

A second penalty from Tatekawa was followed by the try of the game as Yamada finished off a flowing back move to put Japan 11-9 up at the break.

Holani extended the lead when he finished off a powerful scrum in the 48th minute and with Tatekawa’s conversion bisecting the posts it was 18-9.

But three penalties from MacGinty saw the Eagles pull level before Andrew Durutalo sealed the win as he was driven over by the Eagles’ pack following a well-worked driving maul.

Japan, who play Fiji next, had a chance to win the game at the death but once again infringed at the breakdown handing the game to the United States.