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Japan prevail over USA

Sunday 16th November 2008

Japan defeated the United States of America 29-19 in the first Test of a two-match series thanks to four Ryan Nicholas penalties on Sunday.

The Eagles led their hosts 14-10 at half-time, but Japan winger Kosuke Endo scored a try early in the second half to put his team ahead for good.

This is just Japan's fourth win in 17 Tests between the two countries.

Japan started out well more than matching the Eagles for strength and speed, and Nicholas opened the scoring in the second minute, slotting over an easy penalty from 25 metres out after the Eagles had been caught offside at a ruck.

With Luke Thompson leading the way with some big hits, the Japan defense was stopping the Eagles from building any momentum.

But in the 10th minute, Japan were punished for not putting safety first.

Shaun Webb looked to run the ball from his own 22 rather than kick and a poor inside pass from Endo saw the Eagles regather the ball. It eventually worked its way to Mike MacDonald and the big prop rumbled over for the opening try, which was converted by Mike Hercus.

The Japan-based fly-half had a chance to extend the Eagles' lead in the 25th minute after Japan were adjudged to have come in from the side at a ruck 40 metres out, but his kick drifted left.

A good break by Koji Taira four minutes later was stopped by an Eagle in an offside position.

Takashi Kikutani asked Webb to go for touch rather than goal and from the line-out, a superb driving maul saw the Japan pack advance 20 metres, before Kensuke Hatakeyama dived over.

Referee Peter Fitzgibbon wasn't quite sure of the grounding so for the first time in a Test match in Japan the decision was referred to the Television Match Official, who adjudged Hatakeyama had been held up.

But Japan kept the pressure on the visitors laying siege to the Eagles line and it paid off, four minutes before the break.

A scrum five metres out saw Japan push the Americans back. The ball was released to Webb who made a half break, and Holani picked up and dived over a pile of bodies for the try.

Nicholas added the extras as Japan went 10-7 up.

But the lead lasted just two minutes, as Takudzwa Ngwenya made the most of his team-mates' ability to release the ball in the tackle, the speedster going over for what ended up being a soft try.

Hercus was on target with the conversion and the States led 14-10 at the break.

Japan started the second half like the first, taking the game to the Eagles.

Good breaks by Endo and Webb, following some great counter-rucking put them in good field position but the chance went begging.

But they more than made amends in the 46th minute.

A superb break from full-back Kaoru Matsushita, who entered the line at great pace, was finished off by Endo in the right-hand corner as the crowd finally came to life.

Nicholas slotted over the conversion as Japan again hit the front, 17-14.

Nicholas made it a six-point lead in the 50th minute when referee Fitzgibbon penalised the USA for dissent, the Japan centre slotting the penalty over from 25 metres out.

The Americans were getting frustrated and another infringement saw Webb take over the kicking duties and land a penalty from 48 metres out as Japan led 23-14 with 58 minutes on the clock.

Nicholas resumed his role as kicker in the 68th minute and duly made it 26-14 as Japan kept up their high-pace attack, forcing the Eagles into mistakes.

However, the whistle was not always going in Japan's favour and new cap Michael Leitch was sent to the sin-bin for what the referee deemed was a dangerous tackle on Ngwenya in the 68th minute.

And the Americans made the extra man count.

JJ Gagiano showed great anticipation at a line-out to intercept the ball on the Japan 10-metre line and although he was caught just short of the line, Joseph Welch was on hand to pick up and score to make it 26-19.

But Japan sealed the game in the 78th minute when Nicholas slotted over his fourth penalty of the afternoon

The two sides now travel to Tokyo where they will face each other at the Prince Chichibunomiya Memorial Ground on 22 November.

"I'm really proud of the boys," said Japan coach John Kirwan.

"We often talk of courage and heart but in the second half we showed that and really stepped up with just 14 men in the last 15 minutes."

The scorers:

For Japan:
Tries: Holani, Endo.
Cons: Ryan Nicholas 2
Pens: Nicholas 4, Webb

For USA:
Tries: MacDonald, Ngwenya, Welch
Cons: Mike Hercus 2

Japan: 15 Kaoru Matsushita, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Koji Tomioka, 10 Shaun Webb, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani, 7 Takashi Kikutani (c), 6 Hajime Kiso, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Yusuke Aoki, 1 Hisateru Hirashima.
Replacements: 16 Naonori Mizuyama, 17 Naoki Kawamata, 18 Tomoaki Taniguchi, 19 Michael Leitch, 20 Tomoki Yoshida, 21 Masakazu Irie, 22 Bryce Robins.

USA: 15 Chris Wyles, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Junior Sifa, 11 Gavin DeBartolo, 10 Mike Hercus, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Pat Quinn, 7 Todd Clever (c), 6 Inaki Basauri, 5 John VanderGiessen, 4 Hayden Smith, 3 Matekitonga Moeakiola, 2 Mark Crick, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements: 16 Joe Welch, 17 Shawn Pittman, 18 Alec Parker, 19 JJ Gagiano, 20 Chad Erskine, 21 Valenese Malifa, 22 Thretton Palamo.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland