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Japan 36 - 19 Samoa
GAME OVER!
85min - TRY - Japan!! There it is, the bonus point try, it's the main man! Kotaro Matsushima who score. Kick is good. Japan 38 - 19 Samoa.
81min - Japan win a free kick, 5 metres out, need a try for the bonus-point.
80min - Turnover from Samoa and the thousands in the crowd take a collective sigh. Seconds to go now.
78min - Japan make another break and they win a penalty, looking now for a bonus point win.
76min - TRY - Japan, perfect response from the home side, they work the ball forward and surely have the win in the bag now. Kenki Fukuoka the try scorer. Kick is wide. Japan 31 - 19 Samoa
75min - Japan look to instantly hit back!
73min - TRY - Samoa, they finally crack the defence they work some pick and go's before they pass it to second five Henry Taefu who scores. Kick is good. Japan 26 - 19 Samoa.
70min - Penalty won out in front for Samoa, they need a try here, they opt to kick for touch.
68min - Great work from Samoa who win the turnover at the breakdown.
67min - Japan make a break through their captain and are just 20m out.
64min - Samoa try a backline move but Japan are up to it, Fidow bumps off a defender but is tackled out.
63min - Scrum coming for Japan, Samoa have struggled to get through this Japan defence today - they need to score a try next if they are to win.
60min - Massive work at the breakdown from Leitch and the Japanese forwards, they win the penalty.
58min - Penalty won by Samoa and after the Japan they will take the scrum.
57min - After a huge run from Samoa they work the ball to the 5 metre line.
54min - TRY - Japan, from the lineout the forwards are too much to handle and they drive over the line. Kazuki Himeno scores. Kick is good. Japan 26 - 12 Samoa.
50min - Massive from Kazuki Himeno at the breakdown, unmoveable, he earns a penalty and Japan will kick for three again. It's good. Japan 19 - 12 Samoa.
46min - Big defence from Japan, they win a penalty and will kick for the three too. It's wide.
44min - Penalty won by Samoa at the breakdown, big passage here, the kick is good. Japan 16 - 12 Samoa.
42min - Samoa make a break and are on the attack now, with the ball but they knock the ball on.
41min - Back underway for the second half.
41min - Knock on from Japan and both sides run into the sheds for half time.
40min - Knock on from TNW and Japan have a scrum after the gong.
39min - After a mistake from Japan, Samoa have a lineout in a good spot.
37min - Maul is called, Samoa will win the scrum.
36min - Faiane is back on the field.
35min - Great running from Fidow and makes a break, but at the breakdown, Samoa give away a penalty.
33min - Penalty called against Japan, hitting the player after the kick, Samoa will kick for goal. It's good. Japan 16 - 9 Samoa.
31min - Samoa win a penalty at the breakdown, they will kick for the three - it's a big kick. It's wide.
28min - TRY - Japan, after the turnover, Japan sling the ball left and it's the centre who scores. Timothy Lafaele with the try. Kick is good. Japan 16 - 6 Samoa.
26min - Great turnover won by Leitch, Japan on attack now.
25min - It's on TJ Ioane and it will be a yellow card, late tackle, no arms.
25min - Penalty won by Japan - and they go upstairs to check a late tackle.
22min - Knock on comes against Japan but they are under advantage and will kick for goal again. It's good. Japan 9 - 6 Samoa.
20min - Really good from Samoa as they make nearly 25 metres in a lineout drive but they try a miracle offload and knock the ball on, Japan lineout after a bad kick from Tim Nanai-Williams.
18min - Massive work at the breakdown from Samoa, penalty won and they will kick for touch.
17min - Nice play from Japan, a cross kick nearly goes to hand, very close, Samoa win the lineout.
14min - A drop goal attempt from Samoa and it's wide. They were under advantage, and will kick for the three. It's good. Japan 6 - 6 Samoa.
13min - Penalty won at the scrum by Samoa, they will kick for touch.
9min - Great work at the breakdown and Samoa win a penalty and will kick for three. It's good. Japan 6 - 3 Samoa.
7min - Japan win a penalty and they take the points again. Kick is good. Japan 6 - 0 Samoa.
6min - Great run from Japan and Lomano Lava Lemeki nearly scores! Jack Lam does well and Samoa clear.
3min - Great start from Japan, Lafaele goes close and under advantage they will take the three. It's good. Japan 3 - 0 Samoa.
1min - Kick off and we are underway!
11:26 pm - Both anthems are coming up, then we will be into it!
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's coverage of the Rugby World Cup match between Japan and Samoa from Toyota Stadium.
TAB Odds: Japan $1.08 Samoa $6.80
Pre-match chat: Japan know importance of victory over Samoa
Japan's stunning 19-12 victory over Ireland set them on course for top spot in their Rugby World Cup pool, but that hard-earned advantage would be largely undone, if they do not see off Samoa at the City of Toyota Stadium on Saturday.
Expectations have been raised significantly in the host nation, since their Irish success, not just because of the result, but also the accomplished way the side disposed of a team, who entered the tournament ranked No.1 in the world.
But with the euphoria comes an extra dose of pressure to maintain that standard,
especially after the heartbreak of 2015, when the 'Brave Blossoms' became the only team in World Cup history to win three pool matches, but not advance to the quarter-finals.
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Coach Jamie Joseph has made three changes to his starting line-up, including the return of squad captain Michael Leitch, who replaces Kazuki Himeno on the side of the scrum, as the latter switches to No.8 for the injured Amanaki Mafi.
Hooker Shota Horie, Man of the Match against Ireland, drops to the bench and is replaced by Atsushi Sakate, while Wimpie van der Walt takes over from Luke Thompson at lock.
"We're finding that test matches are very tight and there is so much pressure at the end of the match, it's crucial we have a strong bench," Joseph said.
"Shota Horie, who had a very good game against Ireland, played the whole 80 minutes. We like him coming on - another very good experienced player - so there's that balance."
Joseph believes there will be plenty of fire in the Samoan bellies, as they fight to stay in the tournament.
"They'll be hurting. They've had some tough times, but they are the sorts of things that usually bring the team tight together, so we're expecting a really physical and tough game."
Samoa's stuttering start to their World Cup has been largely self-inflicted, with an unconvincing 34-9 victory over pool minnows Russia, followed by a dismal 34-0 defeat to Scotland.
The Pacific Islanders have not been helped by four yellow cards so far in the
competition and coach Steve Jackson joked he might have to cosy up to Saturday's referee, Jaco Peyper.
"We're going to take him out for dinner and then go to have a drink," Jackson told reporters.
Jackson added that the investment made by Japanese rugby in their national team should be a blueprint for other nations, such as Samoa, to follow.
"They've selected great coaches to run their national team and they've had massive support to what they're trying to do," he said. "Obviously, last weekend, you saw what it means for them.
"They've got some world-class players in their squad and that doesn't happen
overnight."
Reuters
