Japan players celebrate a try against Chile in the Rugby World Cup. Credit: Alamy
Japan recorded a 42-12 victory over Chile in an Electric Rugby World Cup Pool D encounter in Toulouse on Sunday.
The game was full of running from start to finish, with fly-half Rikiya Matsuda’s sharp-shooting boot and six tries giving the Brave Blossoms their first win of this year’s tournament.
Click here for scorer
It was a dream start for Chile in their first World Cup match as Rodrigo Fernandez crossed early for his first effort, which was converted by Santiago Videla.
Japan responded in the eighth minute through Amato Fakatawa, who crashed over for a converted try.
A back-and-forth period full of running and a yellow card for Chile prop Matias Ditas saw no change in the scoreline until Joan Nicabula scored a try on the half-hour mark, which Matsuda was unable to convert. Problem did not occur.
Japan had the final say in the first half to extend the deficit as Fakatawa powered over to complete his brace which was converted from the touchline.
The second period began similarly to the first period with an early effort from Chile as Alfonso Escobar scored in the 48th minute, but missed the conversion. As in the clash, Japan responded quickly through veteran Michael Leach, who scored under the post in the 53rd minute. Matsuda again made no mistakes off the tee.
The scoreline remained intact for a good while as Chile tried hard to try to get within striking distance, but that was not to be as Ryoto Nakamura headed over a converted effort in the 71st minute, effectively securing the result. Done.
Japan had the final say in the game as Nakamura secured his brace at the end of the game and Matsuda made no mistakes off the tee.
the teams
Japan: 15 Semisi Masirewa, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Jon Nakabula, 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 8 Kazuki Himeno (c), 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 6 Michael Leach, 5 Amato Fakatawa, 4 Jack Cornelson , 3 Jiwon Gu, 2 Atsushi Satake, 1 Keita Inagaki
Replacement: 16 Shota Horie, 17 Craig Miller, 18 Asaili Ai Valu, 19 Warner Derns, 20 Shota Fukui, 21 Naoto Saito, 22 Tomoki Osada, 23 Lomano Lemecki
Chile: 15 Iñaki Ayarza, 14 Santiago Videla, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 12 Matias Garafoulic, 11 Franco Velarde, 10 Rodrigo Fernandez, 9 Marcelo Torrellaba, 8 Alfonso Escobar, 7 Raimundo Martínez, 6 Martín Cigre (c), 5 Javier Eiseman, 4 Clemente Saavedra , 3 Matias Ditas, 2 Diego Escobar, 1 Javier Carrasco
Replacement: 16 Augusto Bohme, 17 Salvador Luis, 18 Iñaki Gurruchaga, 19 Pablo Huete, 20 Santiago Pedrero, 21 Ignacio Silva, 22 Lucas Carvalho, 23 Jose Ignacio Llarenas
Ref: Nick Berry(RA)
Assistant Referee: Carl Dixon (RFU), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)
Read more: England vs Argentina: Five lessons from the Rugby World Cup match, experienced people rose to the occasion
The article Bonus-point Japan beats historic Chile in thrilling Rugby World Cup encounter first appeared on PlanetRugby.com.
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