Japan XV Squander Great Chance To Beat Māori All Blacks – Match Review

Japan XV lost to the Māori All Blacks 31-38 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya after having led 24-7 at halftime. The two teams have met seven times since 2018, and Japan only have the one win under their belts, but they should have secured the result after an impressive first half.

Photo Credit – JRFU

Japanese acting Head Coach Neil Hatley said after the loss. “I am disappointed for the players as I thought they put a lot of effort in, but there was a lot there to be positive about and to build on. We want to play like Japan in the upcoming games. We want to attack, which is part of our DNA, but we have to execute better.”

There were positives, as Japanese Uni student Ryunosuke Ito showed his potential at fly-half, and Dylan Riley had a strong game, with a handful of others also impressing, albeit mostly in the opening period.

Photo Credit – NZR

The hosts started well in front of a packed crowd and opened the scoring with a cross-field kick to right wing Kazuma Ueda, who converted (he scored 10 tries for JRLO championship-winning Kobe Steelers) after several good carries nearly got them over the line beforehand.

The Maori AB scrumhalf Adam Lennox scored their first try soon after as they tied it up 7-7. Michael Stolberg and Riley had good carries and made meters while the young university students showed their skills and youthful exuberance –
Lee Ji-soo and scrum-half Takuro Hojowas both had good performances.

Waisake Lalatubua looked to have put Japan XV back ahead with the team’s second try, but the TMO (who had several interventions) ruled it out correctly as there was a knock-on in the build-up. Ito then dropped one over the try line as the team wasted some chances but were putting the opposition under pressure.

That pressure saw two Maori All Black players yellow-carded for repeat infringements. First captain Mamoru Harada scored from a rolling maul with the player advantage, although that one might have needed a TMO check. Dylan Riley scored the 3rd try, and powerhouse wing Inoke Burua the 4th before the half as they led 24-7 at the break.

Photo Credit – JRFU

The Japan XV coaching staff’s message at the break was that they had a great defensive start, moved the ball well, and attacked well. In the second half, they wanted to pressure the Maori ABs in defence and carry on the momentum. That didn’t happen.

The visitors started well and scored first after a long period of possession in the Japan XV 22m area. Japan XV struck back as Dylan Riley set up Takuro Matsunaga for his try.

In the final quarter, the men in black scored a cluster of tries. They showed great continuity and ball retention, and Japan XV couldn’t escape their own half without putting themselves under pressure. The substitutions also made a massive difference, and all of the momentum was with the Maori side. The visitors took the lead for the first time with a great solo try in the 74th minute.

With the game just about wrapped up, they scored a final try to seal the win, although every angle showed it was a clear knock on, the match referee, who had a good game, didn’t feel it was clear and obvious, and the result stood with a 38-31 win.

Maori All Black Head Coach Tamati Ellison said, “The effort and the finishing from the leaders off the bench was good to finish off a tight game. Japanese players have gotten better at what they’ve always done. They are fast and have good footwork, and are hard to stop when they are on top and they never give up. We knew we had to match the intensity and fighting spirit.”

Japan XV Dylan Riley said he was disappointed in the result. “It was obviously disappointing to lose the way we did, but there were a lot of good things that came out of the game with a short preparation of a week and a half together, but obviously, there are still things we need to work on before next week.”

Photo Credit – JRFU – Dylan Riley vs Maori All Blacks

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