Japan claim impressive win over Italy to start Nations Championship

Goal-kicking fullback Takuro Matsunaga finished with a decisive 17-point haul as Japan claimed a 27-10 Nations Championship win against Italy, who turned the ball over more than 20 times at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.

Italy had made 17 handling errors to Japan’s four by the 71-minute mark, with the visitors trailing by more than two converted tries at that stage. The Azzurri largely controlled the possession and territory battles, but the Brave Blossoms made the most of their point-scoring opportunities.

Juan Ignacio Brex helped get Italy off to a dream start, with the outside centre racing through a big gap to score in the fifth minute. Tommaso Menoncello had sent his centre partner on a significant break up field a couple of minutes earlier, as the Italians searched for the opening points.

Fly-half Paolo Garbisi helped park Japan inside their own half with an effective kick downfield, which led the hosts to dot the ball down for a goal-line drop-out. Italy No. 8 Lorenzo Cannon returned the kick with purpose, before Ignacio Brex scored in the very next phase.

But it didn’t take the Brave Blossoms long to hit back, with captain Warner Dearns burrowing over for the team’s first points in the Nations Championship. Matsunaga levelled the scores with the successful conversion, opening the fullback’s point-scoring account for the night.

Matsunaga put Japan ahead soon after with a try in the 16^th minute. Inside centre Yuya Hirose made a break before sending try-scorer over for the go-ahead points with a draw and pass, before the fullback converted his own try.

The No. 15 added another three to Japan’s score with a penalty attempt in the 24^th minute, lining up the shot from just outside the 22. Garbisi struck back for Italy in the final play of the half, with a shot at the sticks reducing the deficit to seven.

Japan couldn’t have started the second half much better, with backrower Ben Gunter powering over for the team’s third try of the night. The blindside flanker got the ball a couple of metres out from the line and was able to fight through the covering Italian defenders.

Italy were had almost 90 per cent possession between the 52^nd and 62^nd minutes, but Japan continued to look more threatening in the pursuit of points. Matsunaga slotted another penalty, extending the Brave Blossoms’ advantage to 17.

The Brave Blossoms were fairly clinical in the dying stages of the contest, keeping the ball out of their own half and even getting themselves into point-scoring positions. But there was no further change to the score, with Japan holding on for a 27-10 win at home.

Japan head to Australia next week for a clash with Ireland in Newcastle.