.jpg){kind=small}
Japan survived an opening blitz by the Italians when the Azzurri skipped away to a 22-0 lead after only 20 minutes through three tries and a penalty. The Japan side pulled back the remainder of the first stanza to go into the break behind by 22-7.
In the early stages of the second half the visitors sustained the pressure and crept back to trail 22-12. However, the Italians kept their heads and closed out the game with two late tries to take a comfortable 36-12 win from the game.
Since John Kirwan took over as head coach of Japan in January, one of his mantras has been for his team to play out the full 80 minutes of each test.
Typically, Japan sides start out games competitively but fade over the last 20 minutes to allow oppositions to steal games or run up big scores. On this occasion against Italy, however, it was the opening 20 minutes when Japan failed to fire.
The left boot of Italian flyhalf Ramiro Pez kicked off the game and immediately Japan was under pressure when scrumhalf Tomoki Yoshida threw a wayward clearing pass back to flyhalf Eiji Ando. Not long there after Italy received a penalty for a Japanese indiscretion at the breakdown and fullback David Bortolussi stepped up to kick the opening points of the game.
In the 7th minute Japan fullback Bryce Robins knocked on in his own 22 and from the ensuing scrum Italy pushed the ball wide to the left for wing Marko Stanojevic to sneak over in the corner for the opening try of the match. Two minutes later Stanojevic was in for his second try when he latched onto a loose Ando pass to run away for an intercept try. Bortolussi added the conversion and Italy was out to a 15-0 lead within the first ten minutes of play.
Things did not get any better for Japan when Bortolussi ran back a midfield kick in the 20th minute to open up the defence and link up with his outside backs that eventually saw right wing Kaine Robertson in for the third Italian try.
Bortolussi added the extras for Italy to take a comfortable 22-0 lead. At this point the game was all but over as a contest and the fear was that Italy would rack up a big score. However, to their credit, Japan re-grouped and played on par with Italy for the remainder of the first half.
In the 25th minute, captain Takuro Miuchi directed Ando to kick for touch from a penalty, rather than taking the easy option of three points. The gamble paid off as from the lineout the forwards set up a classic rolling maul that had loose head prop Tatsukichi Nishiura touching down for the try. Ando added the extras to bring the score line back to 22-7.
Neither side could add to their scores and this is how the teams went to the halftime break.
Japan was rattled by the opening 20 minute blitz by Italy, but nearly all of Italy’s points came from Japan unforced errors. Japan looked unsure and the confidence just was not there in the opening exchanges. Passes went astray or were intercepted; Ando put kicks out on the full and usually reliable players put down easy passes or catches.
Fortunately, Japan settled down in the second 20 minutes of the first half, especially at the set pieces and in defence and this prevented the score from blowing out.
Japan started the second half well with three lineout steals easing the Italian pressure. In the 56th minute Japan lock Luke Thompson collected an intercept pass and scooted away towards the Italian tryline. The big man ran out of gas and was pulled down short of the line but one phase later flanker Hare Makiri was over in the right hand corner for Japan’s second try. Ando failed to add the extras but Japan was well and truly back in touch at 22-12.
The remainder of the match was an even handed affair, though Italy just managed to take better advantage of the opportunities that came their way. Prop Andrea Lo Cicero-Vaina bulldozed his way over the Japan tryline from close range in the 66th minute and Bortolussi made sure of the conversion to take Italy out to a 29-12 lead.
This would have been a fitting fulltime score, but flanker Mauro Bergamasco went over for Italy’s fifth try in the shadows of the fulltime siren. Bortolussi converted the try and Italy ran out 36-12 winners scoring five tries to two.
Japan managed to hold their heads after the opening onslaught and play their way back into the game. Albeit, without a real chance of stealing the game from the home side. Hopefully Japan played themselves into a bit of form for the World Cup as they now go on to face Portugal in Lisbon next weekend as the final outing before the big event. Italy will move on to Belfast to take on Ireland next weekend.
Italy (22) 36
Japan (7) 12
