Japan 26
Samoa 5

AYUMU GOROMARU SCORED 16 points to put Japan within reach of a historic appearance in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals as they beat Samoa 26-5 on Saturday.

The 29-year-old, who starred in the epic win over South Africa two weeks ago, became the leading points scorer at the tournament with 45 points.

The Japanese also scored two tries, a penalty try and one from wing Akihito Yamada.

The win at Milton Keynes takes the Japanese — who prior to this World Cup had won just one match, way back in 1991 — onto eight points ahead of their final game with United States next weekend.

Table-toppers Scotland — who have 10 points from two matches — face the Springboks, who have seven points, later on Saturday.

Scorers for Japan -
Tries: Akihito Yamada, Penalty try
Cons: Ayumu Goromaru (2)
Pens: Ayumu Goromaru

Scorers for Samoa -
Tries: Paul Perez

Japan

15 Ayumu Goromaru
14 Akihito Yamada
13 Male Sau
12 Harumichi Tatekawa
11 Kotaro Matsushima
10 Kosei Ono
9 Fumiaki Tanaka

1 Keita Inagaki
2 Shota Horie
3 Kensuke Hatakeyama
4 Luke Thompson
5 Hitoshi Ono
6 Michael Leitch (c)
7 Michael Broadhurst
8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani

Replacements: 16 Takeshi Kizu, 17 Masataka Mikami, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Justin Ives, 20 Amanaki Mafi, 21 Hendrik Tui, 22 Atsushi Hiwasa, 23 Karne Hesketh.

Samoa

15 Tim Nanai-Williams
14 Ken Pisi
13 Paul Perez
12 Johnny Leota
11 Alesana Tuilagi
10 Tusi Pisi
9 Kahn Fotuali’I

1 Sakaria Taualofo
2 Ole Avei
3 Census Johnston
4 Teofilo Paulo
5 Kane Thompson
6 Ofisa Treviranus (c)
7 TJ Ioane
8 Fafili Levave.

Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Viliamu Afatia, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Jack Lam, 20 Vavae Tuilagi, 21 Vavao Afemai, 22 Mike Stanley, 23 Rey Lee-Lo.

(C) AFP 2015

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