Japan

22 - 24

Full Time

Samoa

Japan vs Samoa

Events

Commentary

Live Updates

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

82'

A gap opened in the defence and Tomoki Osada took full advantage.

73'

Samoa decide to make a substitution, with Tietie Tuimauga getting some game time.

70'

Samoa decide to make a substitution, with Jordan Lay being replaced.

70'

Japan make a substitution with Rikiya Matsuda coming on.

68'

Japan make a substitution with Seungsin Lee coming off.

68'

A gap opened in the defence and Ray Niuia took full advantage.

68'

Samoa make a substitution with Ere Enari coming on.

67'

Samoa make a substitution with Jonathan Taumateine coming off.

67'

Japan make a substitution with Shinnosuke Kakinaga coming on.

65'

Japan make a substitution with Jiwon Gu coming off.

65'

Samoa sub Martini Talapusi comes onto the field.

64'

Danny Toala departs for Samoa.

64'

Japan sub Uwe Helu comes onto the field.

64'

Amato Fakatava departs for Japan.

64'

Conversion

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

63'

Try

Great hands by Samoa leads to a try for Tumua Manu

62'

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

62'

Spellbinding play by Danny Toala is finished off with a try.

62'

Japan sub Tomoki Osada comes onto the field.

60'

Dylan Riley departs for Japan.

60'

Japan sub Craig Millar comes onto the field.

60'

Keita Inagaki departs for Japan.

60'

Japan sub Shota Horie comes onto the field.

60'

Atsushi Sakate departs for Japan.

60'

Penalty Goal

The touch judges raise their flags as Seungsin Lee kicks the penalty goal.

60'

Ed Fidow comes on for Samoa.

58'

Neria Fomai leaves the field.

58'

Genesis Mamea Lemalu comes on for Samoa.

58'

So'otala Fa'aso'o leaves the field.

58'

Miracle Faiilagi comes on for Samoa.

58'

Brian Alainu'uese leaves the field.

58'

Penalty Goal

Seungsin Lee adds the points for Japan.

56'

Shota Fukui comes on.

54'

Shogo Nakano comes off.

54'

Naoto Saito comes on.

54'

Yutaka Nagare comes off.

54'

Charlie Faumuina comes on.

52'

Paul Alo-Emile comes off.

52'

Ray Niuia comes on.

52'

Luteru Tolai comes off.

52'

What a run here by Taleni Seu as they get over the gainline!

51'

Conversion

Christian Leali'ifano adds the two points for Samoa.

49'

Try

Nobody was going to stop Jonathan Taumateine from scoring that try!

47'

Penalty Goal

Seungsin Lee makes no mistake with that penalty goal attempt.

46'

Penalty Goal

Seungsin Lee kicks the penalty.

41'

The second half kicks off.

40'

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

41'

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

41'

Conversion

Christian Leali'ifano does the business as their conversion attempt goes over.

37'

Try

The pick and go results in a try for Samoa as Alamanda Motuga goes over.

36'

Red Card

Michael Leitch (Japan) is shown the red card

29'

Trouble here as Dylan Riley breaches the defence.

25'

Penalty Goal

Christian Leali'ifano adds the points for Samoa.

24'

Penalty Goal

Seungsin Lee does the business as their penalty goal attempt goes over.

18'

Yellow Card

Taleni Seu (Samoa) is shown a yellow card

15'

The defensive line has been broken as Amato Fakatava goes through the gap.

Conversion

Seungsin Lee has kicked a conversion.

Try

Japan are only a few metres out, surely they must score! And they do with Amato Fakatava touching down.

We are underway as the referee blows their whistle.

Match Details

  
 Japan v Samoa 
  
 Fri 21st July 2023, 10:50pm PDT 
  
 Sapporo Dome

Points Flow Chart

Samoa win +2

Time in lead

Mins in lead

55%

% Of Game In Lead

31%

83%

Possession Last 10 min

17%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Leali'ifano

63'

22 - 24

Manu

62'

22 - 22

Lee

22 - 17

60'

Lee

19 - 17

56'

Leali'ifano

49'

16 - 17

Taumateine

47'

16 - 15

Lee

16 - 10

46'

Lee

13 - 10

41'

Half Time

Leali'ifano

37'

10 - 10

Motuga

36'

10 - 8

Leitch

10 - 3

29'

Leali'ifano

24'

10 - 3

Lee

10 - 0

18'

Seu

15'

7 - 0

Lee

7 - 0

Fakatava

5 - 0

Start

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.6

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

3.5

Entries

Attack Profile

Japan

Samoa

More Less

Defence Profile

Japan

Samoa

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

46%

48%

3-6 secs

38%

25%

6+ secs

11%

22%

Rucks Won

Japan vs Samoa Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Japan face off against Samoa in Internationals on Fri 21st July 2023 at Sapporo Dome. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 06:50. In South Africa it’s at 07:50 SAST, 17:50 NZST in New Zealand, 15:50 AEST in Australia and 22:50 EST in the US.

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

World Rankings

Heading into the fixture, Japan sits at 12 in the World Rugby Rankings, while Samoa holds 19.

The two sides are separated by 7 places in the rankings with Japan in position 12 and Samoa in position 19 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.