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Wales finds form to rout Japan
From Angus MacKinnon in Cardiff, Wales
September 21, 2007
WALES recaptured a measure of attacking fluency to score 11 tries as the Dragons defeated Japan 72-18 in the Rugby World Cup Pool B match at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff today.
The win leaves the Welsh needing to beat Fiji next week to book a place in the quarter-finals.
But the Dragons still have worl to do, as the error-strewn performance against Japan was far from the clinical display sought by head coach Gareth Jenkins after the weekend defeat by Australia.
Wales captain Stephen Jones admitted his side had plenty of room for improvement against a Fiji team that will fancy its chances of upsetting the odds and advancing to the last eight.
"I'm happy with our performance, I'm happy with the victory, but yes we've got things to work on," Jones said.
"Some of our patterns aren't as efficient as what they should be.
"Especially when we are going wide at the moment, we are getting turned over.
"We need to look at our contact skills, make sure we tighten those areas up. If we do that then we can get a lot more continuity into out game."
Given that Japan was hammered 98-0 on its previous visit to Cardiff, the Cherry Blossoms could have been forgiven if they had displayed a few nerves on their return to Millennium Stadium.
But they made a spirited start and claimed an early lead through centre Shotaro Onishi's fourth-minute penalty.
Wales then touched down the opening try of the game, but there was an element of fortune about the score.
Shane Williams's kick destined for the left touchline was partially charged down but fell kindly into the path of Stephen Jones, who sent Dafydd James off on a diagonal run that pierced the defence and allowed Alun-Wyn Jones to touch down in the opposite corner.
Stephen Jones converted for the 100th time in Tests but Japan responded with a superb breakaway try midway through the opening period to reclaim the lead.
Wales No 8 Alix Popham was robbed of possession by Hitoshi Ono as a five-metre scrum broke down, and an exhilarating five-man counter attack concluded with wing Kosuke Endo touching down to complete a score from one corner of the ground to the other.
Stephen Jones landed a penalty to put Wales back in front, and it provided the cue for the Dragons to assert their superiority with two converted tries in quick succession, centre James Hook touching down in the corner before hooker Rhys Thomas charged over at a ruck.
Onishi reduced the deficit with a penalty three minutes before the interval but a Kevin Morgan try right on the stroke of half-time enabled Wales to go in with a fourth-try bonus point and a slightly flattering 29-11 lead.
Stand-in scrum Michael Phillips added a fifth touchdown within two minutes of the restart then produced a moment of magic to allow Shane Williams to celebrate his 50th cap with a try.
Phillips was sent sprawling to the turf after collecting his chip over the Japanese midfield, but he somehow managed to loop a long pass wide for Williams to go over.
Dafydd James then got on the scoresheet before Japan's efforts were rewarded with a second try, which, like their first, came courtesy of a mistake by Popham, whose slack one-handed pass was intercepted by Hirotoki Onozawa before the Japan wing sprinted more than 60 metres to touch down under the posts.
A try for substitute Gareth Cooper, two from flanker Martyn Williams and Shane Williams's second of the night boosted the try count as Japan tired in the closing stages.
Agence France-Presse
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