Samoa narrowly beat Japan 24-22 on their home turf, reduced to 14 after a 30th-minute exclusion on Saturday in Sapporo, in a test match between two teams that will find themselves in the same pool at the World Cup in France (September 8-October 28).
Japan took an early lead thanks to a try from debutant Amato Fakatava (6), before being reduced to 14 shortly before the break after third-row wing Michael Leith was red-carded for a high tackle on So’otala Fa’aso’o. The Samoans, with the debut of former Australian international Christian Leali’ifano, took command after two tries, signed by flanker Alamanda Motuga and scrum half Jonathan Taumateine (48th).
Japan were back in front thanks to the boot of fly-half Lee Seung-sin, but a try from Tumua Manu, overflowing in one-on-one Kotaro Matsushima (64th), gave the Samoans victory against the Brave Blossoms, quarter-finalists of the World Cup in 2019. Japan and Samoa will meet on September 28 in Toulouse as part of the World Cup, in a Pool D match featuring also England, Argentina and Chile.
