Samoa trounces Japan

Leaega scores 23 in team's World Cup opener

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Posted: Monday October 04, 1999 04:10 PM

Japan's Yukio Motoki (left) and Samoa's Lama Tony clash during their Rugby World Cup match. AP

WREXHAM, Wales (CNNSI) - The wind whipped the rain around as an appreciative crowd turned out to watch Samoa overwhelm Japan 43-9 in the match at Wrexham, which opened up both countries World Cup hopes.

At one point both sides had six points, as Japan endeavored to hold its own. But following Samoa's second try, Japan fell further behind. For as the skies opened up the men of the Rising Sun watched their hopes set.

Japan's lack of size severely hampered its abilities at making and escaping tackles, while it also poorly kicked away hard-fought for possession to often.

The Group D matchup on Sunday between the two Pacific nations was largely a reunion of former New Zealand stars. Although Japan played four more Kiwis than were on the Samoan lineup, it was Western Samoa that came out on top.

Brother played brother as Graeme Bachop who now represents Japan failed to live up to his brother Stephen's challenge. Stephen now plays for Samoa.

However, it was Samoa's fullback Silao Leaega who scored a try, four penalties and three conversions for a personal points tally of 23, and wingers Brian Lima and Afata So'oala collected two tries each as Samoa opened its World Cup challenge with a 43-9 vict ory over Japan on Sunday.

The result was the perfect start for the Samoans, who hope to beat Argentina at Llanelli next week while the Japanese face host Wales in Cardiff. All the Japanese points came from the boot of fly-half Keiji Horise who kicke d three penalties although his fast running team went close to scoring tries during a spirited fightback early in the second half.

In teeming rain and a strong, cold wind blowing across the Racecourse Ground, the first 10 minutes was a kicking contest between Hirose and Leaega who landed two each for a 6-6 scoreline.

Rival former All Blacks Craig Glendinning (Samoa) and Jamie Joseph (Japan) were shown the yellow card for rough play in a ruck before the Samoans broke out to score the first try in the 25th minute.

Center To'o Vaega burrowed through the middle and provided a pass outside to Lima who charged unchallenged across the line for the score. Leaega missed the conversion.

But a second try came seven minutes later when St ephen Bachop kicked into a huge space behind the Japanese defense and the fast-moving winger So'oalo got to the ball before Japanese captain and center Andrew McCormick to pass inside to Leaega to cross for the score.

This time Leaega kicked the close range conversion and the Samoans led 18-6, which they held on to at halftime despite an audacious 49-meter penalty attempt by Hirose who was just short.

A 30-meter penalty via the inside of the post by Leaega stretched the lead to 15 points four minutes into the second half before the Japanese rallied with some enterprising play led by Joseph.

Replacement fullback Pat Tuidraki and back row Yasunori Watanabe were both halted just short of the Samoan line before the Japanese pressure yielded a penalty and Hirosi's kick reduced the deficit to 21-9 in the 52nd minute.

Joseph was involved thee times in a persistent Japanese move in which Terunori Masuho was halted just a meter short of the line as the Samoan defense held out again.

But a well-worked third Samoan try in the 59 minute virtually finished off the Japanese fightback when Stephen Bachop fed Va'aiga Tuigamala, whose slick pass behind him found So'oalo running through the middle at pace and the winger raced clear for the score. Leaega's conversion made it 28-9 with a quarter of the game to go.

The powerfully buil t Tuigamala, a former Wigan rugby league star who now plays for England's rugby union champion Newcastle, was at the heart of almost every Samoan move by this stage. But they were denied another score by some ill-discipline among the forwards.

Team captain Pat Lam crossed the Japanese line but the score was canceled out because the touch judge spotted prop Brendon Reilly punching a floored Japanese player in the buildup.

But Leaega kicked his fourth penalty to stretch the lead to 31-9 with 1 0 minutes to go and then So'oala collected his own kick ahead to cross for his second try. Leaega converted again but he missed the kick after Lima burst down the left to take an outside pass to cross for his second of the game.

Samoa

Japan

 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.