Japan

15 - 42

Full Time

France

France vs Japan

Events

Commentary

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Live Updates

It's all over! The referee Ben O'Keeffe has blown their whistle to end the game.

80'

This is dangerous for the defence as Theo Attissogbe bursts through to advance the France attack.

79'

Yellow Card

Marko Gazzotti (France) is shown a yellow card

76'

This is dangerous for the defence as Takuro Matsunaga bursts through to advance the Japan attack.

76'

A gap opened in the defence and Matthieu Jalibert took full advantage.

74'

A gap opened in the defence and Naoto Saito took full advantage.

72'

France make a substitution with Paul Graou coming on.

67'

France make a substitution with Maxime Lucu coming off.

67'

France sub Killian Tixeront comes onto the field.

62'

Lenni Nouchi departs for France.

62'

Japan sub Shunsuke Uenobo comes onto the field.

61'

Ryunosuke Ito departs for Japan.

61'

Japan sub Tiennan Costley comes onto the field.

61'

Jack Cornelsen departs for Japan.

61'

Japan sub Kenji Sato comes onto the field.

61'

Hayate Era departs for Japan.

61'

Yellow Card

Matthieu Jalibert (France) is shown a yellow card

57'

Izi Sword comes on for Japan.

56'

Keijiro Tamefusa leaves the field.

56'

Kalvin Gourgues comes on for France.

55'

Yoram Moefana leaves the field.

55'

Tom Staniforth comes on for France.

55'

Emmanuel Meafou leaves the field.

55'

Sipili Falatea comes on for France.

55'

Regis Montagne leaves the field.

55'

Peato Mauvaka comes on for France.

55'

Maxime Lamothe leaves the field.

55'

Reda Wardi comes on for France.

55'

Jefferson Poirot leaves the field.

55'

Taira Main comes on.

52'

Kippei Ishida comes off.

52'

Michael Stolberg comes on.

52'

Harry Hockings comes off.

52'

Conversion

The touch judges raise their flags as Maxime Lucu kicks the conversion.

51'

Try

Nothing was going to stop Maxime Lamothe from scoring as they record the try for France.

50'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Michael Leitch getting some game time.

48'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Esei Haangana being replaced.

48'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Takato Okabe getting some game time.

48'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Sojiro Otsuka being replaced.

48'

Conversion

Romain Ntamack adds the two points for France.

43'

Try

Slick passing by France leads to a try for Matthieu Jalibert.

42'

Matthieu Jalibert makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

42'

Maxime Lucu played a key part in that try.

42'

Theo Attissogbe makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

42'

France make a substitution with Hugo Auradou coming on.

40'

France make a substitution with Florian Verhaeghe coming off.

40'

The second half kicks off.

40'

The half-time whistle blows and both teams head for the dressing rooms.

40'

Conversion

Takuro Matsunaga does the business as their conversion attempt goes over.

35'

Try

The pick and go results in a try for Japan as Sojiro Otsuka goes over.

35'

Conversion

Maxime Lucu does the business as their conversion attempt goes over.

30'

Try

The pressure has finally told as Maxime Lucu scores from close range.

29'

Conversion

Maxime Lucu makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.

23'

Try

Great forward play by France allows Alexandre Roumat to score the try.

22'

Conversion

Maxime Lucu converts the try.

19'

Try

A wonderful passing move by France is finished off by Matthieu Jalibert

18'

This is dangerous for the defence as Matthieu Jalibert bursts through to advance the France attack.

18'

Romain Ntamack sets up the try.

18'

Yellow Card

Harry Hockings (Japan) is shown a yellow card

17'

France make a substitution with Lenni Nouchi coming on.

17'

France make a substitution with Killian Tixeront coming off.

17'

France make a substitution with Florian Verhaeghe coming on.

17'

France make a substitution with Hugo Auradou coming off.

17'

Takuro Matsunaga curls the ball too far, missing the posts to the right.

15'

Try

A series of passes by Japan results in a try for Kippei Ishida

14'

Spellbinding play by Dylan Riley is finished off with a try.

14'

A gap opened in the defence and Dylan Riley took full advantage.

14'

A gap opened in the defence and Naoto Saito took full advantage.

14'

Penalty Goal

Takuro Matsunaga kicks the penalty.

Killian Tixeront comes on for France.

Lenni Nouchi leaves the field.

Hugo Auradou comes on for France.

Florian Verhaeghe leaves the field.

Conversion

Maxime Lucu has kicked a conversion.

Try

France are only a few metres out, surely they must score! And they do with Maxime Lamothe touching down.

The defensive line has been broken as Yoram Moefana goes through the gap.

We are underway as the referee Ben O'Keeffe blows their whistle.

Watch

Japan v France

www.rugbypass.tv

Match Details

  
 Japan v France 
  
 Round 3 
  
 Sat 18th July 2026, 01:40am PDT 
  
 MUFG Stadium 
  
 RugbyPass TV 
  
 Ben O'Keeffe

Points Flow Chart

France win +27

Time in lead

Mins in lead

% Of Game In Lead

96%

50%

Possession Last 10 min

50%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Gazzotti

76'

15 - 42

Jalibert

57'

15 - 42

Lucu

51'

15 - 42

Lamothe

50'

15 - 40

Ntamack

43'

15 - 35

Jalibert

42'

15 - 33

Half Time

Matsunaga

15 - 28

35'

Otsuka

13 - 28

35'

Lucu

30'

8 - 28

Lucu

29'

8 - 26

Lucu

23'

8 - 21

Roumat

22'

8 - 19

Lucu

19'

8 - 14

Jalibert

18'

8 - 12

Hockings

8 - 7

17'

Ishida

8 - 7

14'

Matsunaga

3 - 7

Lucu

0 - 7

Lamothe

0 - 5

Start

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

3.5

Entries

Attack Profile

Japan

France

More Less

Defence Profile

Japan

France

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

60%

57%

3-6 secs

31%

27%

6+ secs

16%

Rucks Won

Last 5 Penalties

67'

68'

75'

76'

77'

Japan

France

Japan vs France Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Japan face off against France in Nations Championship Round 3 on Sat 18th July 2026 at MUFG Stadium. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 09:40 and is broadcast on ITV. In South Africa it’s at 10:40 SAST on SuperSport, 20:40 NZST on Sky Sport, Sky Sport Now, Sky Go in New Zealand, 18:40 AEST on Stan Sport in Australia and 01:40 EST on RugbyPass TV in the US.

France won the last encounter but both teams are in the same form for their last 5 games.

World Rankings

Heading into the fixture the two sides are separated by just 5 places in the rankings with France in position 4 and Japan in position 9, underlining just how tight this match could be.

Japan vs France Squads

The official squads for Japan vs France will become available around 24- 48 hours before kick-off. Teams can still make changes up to an hour before the match however.