POOL D
Samoa 43 Japan 9

Thu, 7 Oct 1999 16:14 GMT

This was a vital clash as three countries - Argentina, Samoa and Japan - all fancied their chances of enduing second to Wales in Pool D. When they met in the Epsom Pacific Rim Championship, Jamie Joseph, who played for the All Blacks in the 1995 World Cup final, scored a try in injury time to give Japan victory by 37-34. It was going to be close.

The wind blew behind Samoa. The rain came with it. The rain and the tough Samoans played into the faces of the Japanese, who did not flinch.

The conditions suited the strong, mauling Samoans, with many players who played in New Zealand and England, better than the Japanese who wanted to get the ball away from the Samoan forwards. Hands too often let them down in the unpleasant conditions.

Manu Samoa, warriors from the South Pacific, kept driving at the Japanese. They threw to Va'aiga Tuigamala, Inga the massive winger, now Inga the massive centre, and told him to ram himself at the Japanese, which he did.

Then suddenly the Samoans ran sharp angles and Brian Lima skated over. Japan lost fullback Tsutomu Matsuda to a Lima tackle and when they were getting themselves sorted out with their Fijian replacement, Patiliai Tuidraki, Stephen Bachop did a clever kick. So'oalo chased 60m after the ball and Silao Leaega was up for a try at the posts.

Half-time came and the score was 18-6, but now Japan would have the weather to help them. Rub your hands and get excited about a close match.

Wrong. The second half was a splendid affair, as lively a rugby match as you could hope for. There was a bit more sunshine and it shone on the Samoans as they kept the ball in hand and scored wonderful tries.

The Japanese kept coming on in wave after wave of attacks, but every one broke on the thick blue wall of Samoan defenders. In one attack the Japanese shoved everybody into attack. Then suddenly on their line the Samoans got the ball, booted downfield Afato So'oalo followed up, booted ahead and scored. And earlier So'aolo had saved a certain try with a decisive tackle near the corner flag.

In the end it all looked easy. The Samoans worked so hard to make it easy. It was a vital win for Samoa and they look quarterfinal material. Japan, strengthened by five New Zealanders and a Fijian may again head off into the rising sun without a win.

The downsides of this all-action encounter were three more yellow cards and two more penalties for lifting on the legs. You must get your hands on the shorts, my boy. Will this see the return of knickerbockers?

Hero of the match

Lots of Samoans, but above all Afato So'oalo on the right wing. He followed up the long kick and gave the pass for Silao Leaega's try in the first half. He made the try-saving tackle when the score was 21-6 and Japan looked like getting back into the game. And then he scored two tries of his own - and he did it all with an amiable smile.

Villain of the match

Two candidates, one for silliness, one for nastiness.

The silly one was Trevor Leota. Just when one had got used to hair dyed blond and then designer scrumcaps, along came Trevor Leota with hair dyed bright red, bright blue and dull beige. Worse, the dye ran out and left it dull beige.

The nasty one was Brendan Reidy. There was a scramble for the ball. Samoa got it back. Leota was in the centre, ran a diagonal and flipped the ball inside to Pat Lam who cut through to score from 30m out, a splendid sevens try.

Try? Oh, no - no try. Brendan Reidy had punched the Japanese lock on the side of the face. Try cancelled - penalty to Japan.

Moment of the match

Every single thing Afato So'oalo did. The stocky winger did it all with such strength, grace, speed, skill - and that smile.

Scorers

For Samoa: Tries by Brian Lima (2), Silao Leaega, Afato So'oalo (2). Four conversions and three penalty goals by Silao Leaega.

For Japan: Three penalty goals by Keiji Hirose.

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