At Toyota Stadium, Tokyo: Japan XV 26 (Samisoni Tua, Shuhei Takeuchi, Kenji Sato tries; Takuya Yamasawa pen, con, Yoshitaka Yazaki con ) Māori All Blacks 14 (Kurt Eklund, Tyrone Thompson tries; Rameka Poihipi 2 con). HT: 8-0
It’s unlikely a scrum penalty has ever been celebrated in such style.
But, having demolished the Māori All Blacks’ scrum, the euphoric scenes a minute from time demonstrated just what how much the looming historic win meant to the Japan XV.
Moments later they kicked the ball out and celebrated again, this time with the 26-14 win in the bag – their first against the Māori All Blacks.
Japan coach Eddie Jones, believe it or not, was relatively subdued. But Kiwi assistants David Kidwell and Dan Bowden, perched in the coaching box, were not.
Fair enough. A week after losing 36-10 to the same opponents, the hosts were deserved winners on a sweltering evening in Tokyo, where the temperature hit 33degC.
The visitors battled with it, trailing 8-0 at halftime and repeatedly coughing up the ball in the sticky conditions.
They did get on the board early in the second half through hooker Kurt Eklund, before his replacement, Tyrone Thompson, did the same to pull the New Zealanders to within 18-14 with 12 minutes to play.
However, Kenji Sato gave the visitors a taste of their own medicine five minutes later, when he cashed in a lineout drive to put the match out of reach.
