Japan players celebrate their victory over Samoa. Photo: ReutersKotaro Matsushima scored a bonus-point try deep into injury time as Japan moved to the brink of their first Rugby World Cup quarter-final with a 38-19 Pool A victory over Samoa at the City of Toyota Stadium on Saturday. Ireland are second in the pool with 11 points while the Scots, with a game in hand, have five. Samoa’s disciplinary issues continued when flanker TJ Ioane was sent to the sin-bin for a no-arms tackle, their fifth yellow card of the tournament, and while he was off the field Japan scored their opening try. The teams traded penalties at the start of the second period before Japan scored a second try on 56 minutes to open up some daylight on the scoreboard.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 05, 2019 18:56 UTC