International
All Blacks overcome brave Japan in Tokyo
Now it’s clear why Japan are called the Brave Blossoms in rugby as they pushed the All Blacks all the way before going down 38-31 margin in an enthralling game in Tokyo.
When Japan lock, and New Zealander, Warner Dearns charged down a ruck clearance by halfback Finlay Christie to regather the ball and run unchallenged to get Japan to 24-28 behind, 65,188 Japanese fans had cause to hope a first win over the All Blacks was on the cards.
Then, when lock Brodie Retallick was red-carded for dangerous play in an attempted cleanout in the 65th minute, they had hope again.
Outstanding openside flanker Kazuki Himeno with three minutes left, lifted hopes again, but New Zealand’s 14 held them out and ended the game with first five-eighths Richie Mo’unga kicking a penalty goal.
What impressed about Japan’s effort was their ability to absorb everything New Zealand threw at them, being forced to make 182 tackles compared to 103 by the All Blacks, while New Zealand won 121 rucks and mauls to 65.
Inspired efforts abounded for the home team as they made the most of the possession they gained. Himeno was ever present in the loose, locks Dearns and Jack Cornelson were athletic and competitive with ball in hand while blindside flanker Michael Leitch contested the loose ball and provided an experienced leadership hand. And in the backs, centre Dylan Reily and left-wing Siosaia Fifita and replacement Gerhard ven der Heever, took chances as they came.
They provided a timely reminder for the All Blacks of the job that lies ahead of them in the remainder of the their tour.
Down 17-21 at the break, New Zealand came out to start the second half at speed, to try to breakdown the Japanese resolve. It was wing Caleb Clarke who ran off a pass from second five-eighths Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to extend the lead. But Japanese defence denied them until they lifted their tempo and power, following Dearns’ try, to hammer the Japan line before No8 Hoskins Sotutu scored.
But then losing Retallick gave Japan another chance to apply the pressure, and it was some determined All Blacks defence, and time, that denied them a famous victory.
It was the first time in five victories over Japan that the All Blacks hadn’t passed the 50 points mark and represented the advance the host team has made.
Typical of Japan’s response was when New Zealand seemed set to pour on the power in the run to halftime, it was Japan who found their second wind and scored two tries in four minutes.
Enjoying a good share of possession throughout the first half, Japan took time to find their continuity, much of the sting in their game being taken out of them by having to contain the All Blacks with their tackling.
Using their set piece to maximise their opportunities during the middle stages of the first half they benefited from the unique skills that last-minute replacement Samisoni Taukei’aho provided, both with his ball play and his lineout throwing.
In New Zealand’s first try, Taukei’aho broke the defence in midfield, drew the final defender and then fed Retallick in for a 25-metre run for the try.
New Zealand missed a chance to score from a five-metre scrum in Japan’s goalmouth when No8 Hoskins Sotutu was turned and unable to present the ball. Moments later, the All Blacks used a similar position to move the ball right, then left and it was Mo’unga who got a ball away to second five-eighths Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and it was centre Braydon Ennor who scored in the 25th minute.
The TMO Marius Jonker felt there might have been a forward pass by Mo’unga but referee Nika Amashukeli said there wasn’t enough evidence to deny the try.
In the 31st minute, Taukei’aho’s pinpoint long throw was taken in midfield by Tuivasa-Scheck and his instant in-pass gave left-wing Sevu Reece space with one man to beat and he rounded him with ease for the third try.
Making more attacking play, the All Blacks lost the ball when Himeno turned the ball over. The ball was played down the right flank and kicked ahead. Perofeta almost pulled off a superb catch but lost the ball forward, and then Ennor couldn’t hold the ball when going down on it.
It was kicked ahead with talented Japan first five-eighths Takuya Yamasawa kicked it ahead, and then gathered the ball to score.
From the restart, Japan worked the ball down the right flank with Leitch making good ground, the ball went through the line with Reilly getting the ball out wide, and then passed inside to halfback Yutaka Nagare who ran in the try.
Scorers: Japan 31 (Takuya Yamasawa, Yutaka Nagare, Warner Dearns, Kazuki Himeno tries; Yamasawa 2 con, pen; Seungsin Lee 2 con) New Zealand 38 (Brodie Retallick, Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece, Caleb Clarke, Hoskins Sotutu tries; Richie Mo’unga 5 con, pen). HT: 17-21
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.
The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.
IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:
Saturday, 16th November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday, 22nd November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday, 29th November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday, 20th December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday, 21st December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
Weekend of 28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.
Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.
Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.
The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.
The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+
Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+
Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For All Blacks XV At Thomond
