Japan are the controlling team in Pool A, having taken their chances and beaten an Ireland side struggling in the conditions and now lead the way. The attack and work rate has every neutral supporting the Brave Blossoms in their exploits as they aim to create history and get through to the Quarter finals for the first time.
The game was a much slower start than the fireworks against Ireland. Samoa brining physicality but more importantly staying in touch on the scoreboard. By taking points when available the score was 9-6 to Japan at the 25th minute. It was at this point that Japan unleashed Matushima who immediately made progress into the Samoa half.
The key however for unleashing Matsushima was Tamura. In the image above you can see that Japan is playing right on the gain line with a simple diamond formation. The ball goes out the back, but Samoa are unable to react. Due to the close runner Samoa have to make sure he is covered giving time for the ball to go out the back. The way Tamura runs and shapes keeps Samoa guessing. The simple angle prevents them judging where the ball is going. This key deception makes Matsushimas run significantly easier.
The Samoan defence has to deal with close runner as shown above, but importantly the wrap allows significantly more speed for the back runner. This forces the outside defenders for Samoa to make a decision. In this case they shoot slightly to wide. This allows Matsushima to cut in and break the arm tackle.
However it is the second carry by Matushima that makes the try. His ability to keep the play alive means Japan maintain momentum while Samoa have to keep retreating. It also allows him to have a more positive presentation allowing Japan to use quick ball off a fast close runner. Whilst Samoa can cover this it draws them in whilst it only uses 4 Japanese players. The first clearer secures the ball, while a second clearer comes into protect the Scrum Half who organises the ball for a split second while Tamura organises the outside runners.
This allows organisation from Tamura and the outside Japanese players. Having 2 flat runners, an inside runner to hold the defence and 3 rapiers out back allows Japan to flow quickly. The transition to wide lay is not damaged or slowed by careless forwards but instead the Japanese are disciplined. This allows them to spread the ball and find the edge of a Samoan defence who are still reorganizing.
Whilst Samoa lacked the wideplay and transition of Japan. Their try just after the 70th minute was wonderfully executed and showed a different brand of rugby played to perfection.
Off a lineout Samoa look to expose Japan rund the tail running a physical runner at the weaker Japanese defenders. By setting a maul it prevents the Japanese runners from tracking round and offering support.
As you can see there is one Japanese defender able to offer support however the Samoan 5 carries wider running more of an arc. But most importantly after the first tackle he remains on his feet looking to add guile to a traditionally brutal type of rugby.
The crucial part of this however is not the additional movement and carry, nor the fluidity. By offloading back inside it stalls Japanese defenders on the inside whilst allowing Samoa to gain width and set up pods ready to carry on the play.
As you can see here, the ball is spread from that previous ruck and instead of running straight Samoa target the outside of the Japanese tacklers. This has 2 benefits. The closest Japanese defender has to face inward in case he has to support the tackle. Meanwhile Samoa can easily resource the ruck and have momentum wrapping round.
The Japanese defence is then stretched by another carry aimed yet again at a slightly wide defender. This provides a contraction in the defence as the inside realigns slower than the yet untroubled outside. Following the wide pass, however a chink in the Japanese armour is exposed. The quick service spreads the ball and as a consequence allows the Samoan carrier to spin and score.
Overall, this game of 2 opposing styles was a close game in which Samoa kept Japan under pressure in a game they were expected to be dismissed. Both teams ability to turn possession in the Opposition 50 to the red zone made the game enthralling. Samoa pushed Japan close but it was Japan’s slight domination of Attacking platforms that played the key role meaning that as they converted more to points they were able to win. Despite this though, to be cliche Rugby was the real winner as two extremely varied and positive teams did battle.
The Analysis Guy 