Page 24 - Irish Examiner USA

sportsexaminer
24

2019 Tenacious Japan Top Wales To Face France In Quarterfinals
After Overcoming Uruguay
16th, Coach Warren Gatland says Wales have never been in a bet-

October Pool A After ter place to challenge for the World Cup after setting up a quar-
ter-final clash against France next Sunday.
A Wales side showing 13 changes from the team that defeated

| Defeating Scotland Fiji sealed top spot in Pool D with a sloppy, slapdash but ultimate-
ly convincing victory over a plucky Uruguay.
EXAMINER typhoon and an earthquake International Stadium nearly possession as the Scots saw dur- choose from for the game against France at Oita Stadium.
But Gatland revealed he expects to have a fully-fit squad to
cotland withstood both a
But that was about as much
Fly-half Dan Biggar, who left the field against Fiji with a head
did not take place as a magni-
IRISH Sontheeveoftheirwin-or-bust tude 5.7 quake coincided with ing what became a frenetic first injury, was able to take part in the warm-up before Sunday’s
game and is expected to pass his return-to-play protocols while
Super Typoon Hagibis’ violent
showdown with Japan but found
half.
centre Jonathan Davies (knee) and winger George North (ankle)
Japan’s approach to this
themselves blown out of the
collision with Japan’s east coast.
World Cup as the super-charged The storm left at least two World Cup on home soil has are also recovering well.
hosts claimed a 28-21 win in dozen dead and scores more been to attack with relentless “We have all 31 players available for the first time since we got
Yokohama. injured but the Scots got the go- tempo and they simply here, which is a great position for us to be in going into the knock-
Gregor Townsend’s men ahead to play their final group dropped a gear and launched out stages,” said Gatland.
needed an eight-point triumph fixture after Yokohama was themselves back at Townsend’s “We’re in a good place, it’s about creating momentum and
to book a quarter-final slot and spared the worst of the “explo- team. making the most of your opportunities.
it looked promising when Finn sive” super cyclone’s brunt. Jamie Ritchie won two vital “Alun Wyn Jones probably said it best, there are 240 minutes
Russell put them ahead early. Townsend knew his team turnovers inside 60 seconds but left to do something special. For us, that’s something to really
But the Brave Blossoms hit would have to prove their it was mere firefighting. focus on.
back with a series of ceaseless strength of character in front of It took until the 18th minute “We are pleased with what we have achieved in the last cou-
attacks as they repeatedly a 70,000 sell-out crowd domi- before the hosts smoked their ple of years, especially in games that matter, so we have a lot of
crashed through the Dark Blues nated by home fans. way down their opponents’ belief within the team and we know we are in good shape physi-
to secure top spot in Pool A and The emotion around the right-hand side, with Fukuoka’s cally, we know the work we’ve put in.
a rematch with their 2015 vic- arena was palpable as a stunning offload taking Stuart “There is a massive motivation to win the quarter-final
tims South Africa in Tokyo moment of silence in tribute to Hogg out of the equation because you win that and you know you’re here until the end of
next Sunday. those who lost their lives in the before Matsushima raced in. the tournament and the boys don’t want to go home next week.
Kenki Fukuoka grabbed a wake of the storm was fol- Scotland were scrambling to “We cannot take for granted our recent good record against
double, while star winger lowed by a haunting rendition cover gaps but with Japan’s France, we have to focus on Sunday. They will be a little fresher
Kotaro Matsushima scored his of the Japanese anthem. energy levels running at maxi- than us, but we feel battle-hardened. They are undefeated like us
fifth of the tournament – but it But it was the Scots who mum it was inevitable gaps so it should be a great match.”
was prop Keita Inagaki who fin- punctured the growing din would appear. Wales scored five tries against Uruguay and also had four dis-
ished off a stunning move that with Russell’s seventh-minute Matsushima spiked through allowed – three to Hallam Amos after careless forward passes –
will be hard to beat for try of opener. the Dark Blues’ defense before while fellow winger Josh Adams kept in the running for the tour-
the tournament. The Racing 92 pivot fired a three pinball off-loads allowed nament’s top try-scorer with his fifth of the RWC.
Scotland refused to go down cross-field kick for Darcy Inagaki to flop over between But it needed late tries from the scrum-half duo of Tomos
without a fight but second-half Graham but the Edinburgh the posts for a glorious score. Williams and Gareth Davies – both on as replacements – to put
scores from forwards WP Nel wing was immediately robbed Lafaele’s kick through then the gloss on the scoreline as Wales finished with a perfect pool
and Zander Fagerson were not by Fukuoka. Magnus Bradbury sent the galloping Fukuoka in record for the first time since 1987.
enough to prevent the Scots recovered possession before the for a try on the stroke of half- “When you look back at previous tournaments we have done
suffering their second pool exit forwards got to work softening time, with the centre scoring well in, there has been a performance that wasn’t the prettiest and
in three tournaments. up the home defense, making again three minutes after the that wasn’t the prettiest tonight, but we dug in and I thought the
The climax to the group the space for Russell to dance restart following an expert bench was good,” Gatland said.
stage at Yokohama’s his way into score. mugging of Chris Harris as he “The scoreline probably reflected the difference between the
sealed Japan’s bonus point. teams. But I have to take my hat off to Uruguay – I thought they
Scotland were now all but were tenacious. They never gave up and kept on making tackles.”
out and had no choice but to go Prop Nicky Smith gave Wales the lead on 17 minutes after
down swinging. They got a try relentless Welsh pressure as he picked up and powered over from
back when Nel squeezed over close range for his first test try in his 34th appearance.
after drives by Sam Johnson But Wales committed far too many handling errors as they
and Hogg finally handed them tried to run the ball at every opportunity with the players know-
some territory in the Brave ing it was the final chance to impress the coach.
Blossoms’ 22. With fly-half Felipe Berchesi coolly slotting over two penalties,
For a moment it looked as Uruguay went into the interval trailing by one point despite
though a repeat of this year’s Wales having dominated territory and possession.
famous Twickenham fightback Uruguay were clearly pumped up by the half-time scoreline
might just be on when and there was a bit of pushing-and-shoving between the players
Fagerson crashed over on 56 as they went down the tunnel.
minutes to cut the deficit to Any thoughts the South Americans harbored of a famous vic-
seven after Russell took the ini- tory were dispelled on 48 minutes as Adams added to his try tally
tiative by throwing a line-out to after a floated pass from fly-half Rhys Patchell.
himself. A penalty try increased the lead shortly after flanker Santiago
Had it not been for Pete Civetta was sent to the sin-bin, but Uruguay got the consolation
Horne’s forward pass, Hogg score their dogged display deserved – maintaining their record of
may even have squared the scoring a try in every game in the pool – when hooker German
game up with 18 minutes left – Kessler powered over from close range.
but there was no late drama as Wales were stung into a quick riposte with Williams scurrying
Japan hung on for another over, above, before Davies raced clear after the final buzzer had
monumental win. C sounded to add another, top. C