Japan beats Samoa, nears historic quarter final

Japan kept alive their hopes of reaching a first ever Rugby World Cup quarter-final with victory over Samoa yesterday.

The Brave Blossoms, who beat South Africa in their opener, led 20-0 at the break thanks to a penalty try, Akihito Yamada’s score and Ayumu Goromaru’s boot. Goromaru’s two penalties extended the lead before Paul Perez’s try for Samoa.

But Japan held out to win a second game at a World Cup for the first time. They had lost 11 of their previous 14 meetings with Samoa, and conceded at least two tries in every World Cup match they had ever played in. But victory for Eddie Jones’ men against the three-time quarter-finalists puts them in a great position to qualify out of Pool B, with a their last match against the United States - yet to earn a point - next weekend.