Highlights available at

Japan

28 - 22

Full Time

Samoa

Japan vs Samoa

Events

Commentary

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Live Updates

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

80'

Conversion

Christian Leali'ifano has kicked a conversion.

78'

Try

Samoa are stopped just a few metres from the try line but Christian Leali'ifano picks up from the base of the ruck to score the try.

77'

Spellbinding play by Melani Matavao is finished off with a try.

77'

Seungsin Lee comes on.

75'

Rikiya Matsuda comes off.

75'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Kenta Fukuda getting some game time.

74'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Naoto Saito being replaced.

74'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Tomoki Osada getting some game time.

74'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Ryoto Nakamura being replaced.

74'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Kanji Shimokawa getting some game time.

74'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Michael Leitch being replaced.

74'

Penalty Goal

Rikiya Matsuda has kicked a penalty goal.

74'

Samoa decide to make a substitution, with Neria Fomai getting some game time.

72'

Samoa decide to make a substitution, with Ed Fidow being replaced.

72'

A gap opened in the defence and Jone Naikabula took full advantage.

69'

Conversion

The Samoa supporters go wild as Christian Leali'ifano successfully kicks the conversion.

65'

Try

Samoa are only a few metres out, surely they must score! And they do with Duncan Paia'aua touching down.

64'

Theo McFarland sets up the try.

64'

Japan sub Warner Dearns comes onto the field.

62'

Jack Cornelsen departs for Japan.

62'

The defensive line has been broken as Kotaro Matsushima goes through the gap.

60'

The defensive line has been broken as Tumua Manu goes through the gap.

58'

Pieter Labuschagne comes on for Japan.

57'

Warner Dearns leaves the field.

57'

Atsushi Sakate comes on for Japan.

57'

Shota Horie leaves the field.

57'

Melani Matavao comes on for Samoa.

57'

Jonathan Taumateine leaves the field.

57'

Alamanda Motuga comes on for Samoa.

57'

Jordan Taufua leaves the field.

57'

Penalty Goal

Rikiya Matsuda adds the points for Japan.

55'

Michael Alaalatoa comes on.

50'

Paul Alo-Emile comes off.

50'

Sama Malolo comes on.

50'

Seilala Lam comes off.

50'

Jordan Lay comes on.

50'

James Lay comes off.

50'

Rikiya Matsuda has hooked the conversion to the left of the posts.

50'

Try

The Japan maul march their way over the white wash for Kazuki Himeno to touch down.

48'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Warner Dearns getting some game time.

46'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Pieter Labuschagne being replaced.

46'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Asaeli Ai Valu getting some game time.

46'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Jiwon Gu being replaced.

46'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Craig Millar getting some game time.

46'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Keita Inagaki being replaced.

46'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Jone Naikabula getting some game time.

46'

Japan decide to make a substitution, with Atsushi Sakate being replaced.

46'

Red Card

Ben Lam (Samoa) is shown the red card

46'

Japan make a substitution with Atsushi Sakate coming on.

40'

Japan make a substitution with Jone Naikabula coming off.

40'

The second half kicks off.

40'

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

41'

Samoa go for goal with Christian Leali'ifano taking the conversion but their aim is not up to scratch as the ball slides to the left of the post.

38'

Try

The Samoa maul pushes over the tryline as Seilala Lam scores.

37'

Yellow Card

Shota Horie (Japan) is shown a yellow card

35'

Fabulous play by Samoa has led to Tumua Manu being able to wriggle through a gap.

33'

Danny Toala comes on for Samoa.

32'

D'Angelo Leuila leaves the field.

32'

Conversion

Rikiya Matsuda does the business as their conversion attempt goes over.

32'

Try

Silky skills by Japan ends with a try for Michael Leitch.

31'

Trouble here as Michael Leitch breaches the defence.

31'

Spellbinding play by Rikiya Matsuda is finished off with a try.

31'

Yellow Card

Jonathan Taumateine (Samoa) is shown a yellow card

31'

Trouble here as Rikiya Matsuda breaches the defence.

30'

Penalty Goal

The touch judges raise their flags as Rikiya Matsuda kicks the penalty goal.

27'

Penalty Goal

D'Angelo Leuila adds the points for Samoa.

24'

Conversion

Rikiya Matsuda converts the try.

14'

Try

Pieter Labuschagne scores the try from close range.

12'

Spellbinding play by Naoto Saito is finished off with a try.

12'

A gap opened in the defence and Lomano Lemeki took full advantage.

12'

The defensive line has been broken as Lomano Lemeki goes through the gap.

Brian Alainu'uese comes on.

Taleni Seu comes off.

There wasn't enough power on that penalty goal attempt by D'Angelo Leuila as it drops short of the posts.

We are underway as the referee blows their whistle.

Bonus Points Awarded

Lost by 6 points

Match Details

  
 Japan v Samoa 
  
 Round 4 
  
 Thu 28th September 2023, 12:00pm PDT 
  
 Stadium de Toulouse

Points Flow Chart

Japan win +6

Time in lead

Mins in lead

86%

% Of Game In Lead

17%

Possession Last 10 min

83%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Leali'ifano

78'

28 - 22

Leali'ifano

77'

28 - 20

Matsuda

28 - 15

74'

Leali'ifano

65'

25 - 15

Paia'aua

64'

25 - 13

Matsuda

25 - 8

55'

Himeno

22 - 8

48'

Lam

46'

17 - 8

Half Time

Lam

37'

17 - 8

Horie

17 - 3

35'

Matsuda

17 - 3

32'

Leitch

15 - 3

31'

Taumateine

31'

10 - 3

Matsuda

10 - 3

27'

Leuila

24'

7 - 3

Matsuda

7 - 0

14'

Labuschagne

5 - 0

12'

Start

Win Probability

Japan

41%

Draw

Samoa

57%

Ruck-Won by Asaeli Ai Valu

Momentum

Japan

Samoa

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.4

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.4

Entries

Attack Profile

Japan

Samoa

More Less

Defence Profile

Japan

Samoa

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

56%

74%

3-6 secs

25%

17%

6+ secs

10%

Rucks Won

110

Last 5 Penalties

69'

73'

75'

76'

79'

Japan

Samoa

Japan vs Samoa Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Japan face off against Samoa in Rugby World Cup Round 4 on Thu 28th September 2023 at Stadium de Toulouse. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 20:00. In South Africa it’s at 21:00 SAST, 08:00 NZST in New Zealand, 05:00 AEST in Australia and 12:00 EST in the US.

Japan won the last encounter but Japan are in the best form of their last 5 games.

World Rankings

Heading into the fixture, Japan sits at 9 in the World Rugby Rankings, while Samoa holds 20.

The two sides are separated by 11 places in the rankings with Japan in position 9 and Samoa in position 20 as such Japan are favourites on paper.

Japan vs Samoa Squads

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