1
Japan bag win despite Chile impressing on World Cup debut
By PA
Japan got their World Cup campaign up and running with a 42-12 win over debutants Chile.
The Brave Blossoms, who were quarter-finalists in their home tournament four years ago, were made to work hard but got the job done thanks to tries from Folau Fakatava (2), Jone Naikabula, Michael Leitch, Ryoto Nakamura and Warner Dearns.
But Chile, playing on the world stage for the first time, left with their pride intact, scoring two tries through Rodrigo Fernandez and Alfonso Escobar to introduce themselves in style.
Indeed, a huge shock seemed possible after an electric start by the South Americans was rewarded with a seventh-minute try as Fernandez stole a loose ball after a good run by Ramon Ayarza.
Dreams were quickly shattered, though, as Japan hit back immediately with Fakatava powering through attempted tackles.
They went ahead on the half-hour as Naikabula burst over the line from a scrum before Fakatava got his second try on the stroke of half-time.
Escobar brought Chile back into it early in the second half as he carried over the line after a prolonged attack, reducing the deficit to 21-12.
Japan closed out the win though, with Leitch running clear in the 53rd minute, Nakamura side-stepping a defender soon after and Dearns completing the victory a minute from the end.
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Go to commentsI’m not fully convinced this was any sort of deliberate grand plan by SB, other than perhaps a masterful way (as it transpired) of dealing with injuries to a couple of key players in positions that lack high calibre alternatives in SB’s view. Losing Martin and Lawrence was disruptive to the team England ideally wanted and pretty likely both start if they had been able to. Ted Hill clearly isn’t fully trusted, despite being on the bench vs Scotland and Italy, and Slade may have had his day in light of an winger being drafted in to start as Test centre for the first time. Moving Earl to centre is worthwhile, in the right circumstances, as a proving exercise for future reference but it’s not the way to go against any of the top teams.
So they may well have added another page to their emergency playbook but I’m doubtful it was a genuine attempt at cutting edge innovation. More a case of necessity being the mother of invention that happened to suit the opposition on that given day. I guess we’ll know more in the Autumn but it won’t be until next year in Paris that the first real test of that set up would come against a heavy power team, IF it’s still in use ofc…
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