Japan finally claims a point
Japan finally claims a point
From Barnaby Chesterman in Bordeaux, France
September 26, 2007
JAPAN scored a last-gasp converted try to earn a dramatic 12-12 draw against Canada in the Cherry Blossoms' final Rugby World Cup Pool B match today.
Substitute Koji Taira crossed in the right corner after sustained late Japanese pressure, and Shotaro Onishi then held his nerve to slot the conversion from a tight angle to earn a share of the spoils.
The conversions ended Japan's record 13-game Rugby World Cup losing streak. The Cherry Blossoms had not claimed a point since they claimed their only tournament victory, against Zimbabwe, in 1991.
Canada seemed to have the game won after hooker Pat Riordan scored a try two minutes after coming out of the sinbin to spur a second-half revival.
But the Canucks could not keep Japan out at the end, and the draw was a fair result.
"I think today was like a World Cup final for both Japan and Canada, and I think 40,000 people have probably gone away pretty happy," Japan coach John Kirwan said.
"We showed a lot of courage. I don't think we played particularly well, I felt we could have played a lot better. To come out with the draw is bitter sweet."
Japan's late heroics almost certainly ended Canada's proud record of earning a victory in every Rugby World Cup - as the Canucks play their final match against two-time world champion Australia this weekend.
"We have to look at ourselves and make sure we do enough to win games," Canada coach Ric Suggitt said. "We had opportunities in the second half to pull away, and we didn't do it."
Canada captain Morgan Williams was enraged, however, that South African referee Jonathan Kaplan did not blow full time earlier. "The ball went out in the 81st minute and then we played an extra three minutes after that," Williams said. "I don't know, was his watch broken or was he blind?"
Japan opened the scoring when Kosuke Endo moved off the right wing into midfield and broke through three paperweight tackles to touch down. The big winger went through Canada fly-half Ryan Smith and flanker Adam Kleeberger with embarrassing ease before a shimmy and sidestep proved effective enough to break past wing Dth Van der Merwe as well.
Onishi missed the relatively straightforward conversion. Canada thereafter dominated the ball to push into Japanese territory, but the Canadians lacked the spark of invention needed to break over the gain line. Japan's no-holds-barred tackling was also keeping the Canadians in check.
Canada's cause wasn't helped when Riordan was shown a yellow card on 36 minutes for an obvious stamp. Canada almost scored late in the half but full back Mike Pyke spilled the ball in the tackle as the try line beckoned.
Canada finally turned the domination of its pack into points eight minutes into the second half, when Riordan, fresh from the sin-bin, was bundled over to level at 5-5.
Just after the hour, Williams kicked ahead and chased only to be denied a try by the retreating Takuro Miuchi, Japan's captain. Williams was looking the most likely player to fashion a try, and so it proved as his quickly taken penalty left Van der Merwe with an easy touchdown in the left corner.
James Pritchard converted for a 12-5 lead with a quarter-hour to play.
Japan opened up and started running the ball with greater purpose, setting up a thrilling finale. And this time, unlike in the 35-31 defeat by Fiji, the Cherry Blossoms managed to engineer the try their attacking endeavour deserved.
Agence France-Presse
