Japan v Samoa LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 result and reaction after Ben Lam red card in Samoa defeat
Japan 28-22 Samoa: Japan held off 14-man Samoa to set up a shootout against Argentina for a quarter-final place
Japan boosted their chances of reaching the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals for the second successive time as they beat an ill-disciplined Samoa 28-22 in Toulouse, a result which sent England through to the last eight.
Tries by Pieter Labuschagne, Michael Leitch, Kazuki Himeno and 13 points from the boot of Rikiya Matsuda gave Japan a comprehensive victory as they leapfrogged their opponents into second place in Pool D with nine points.
Samoa, who had Ben Lam red-carded early in the second half and answered with tries by Seilala Lam, Duncan Paia’aua and Christian Leali’ifano as well as points from the tee by Alai D’Angelo Leuila and Leali’ifano, are third on six points.
With 14 points, England will finish top of the pool. Fourth-placed Argentina are expected to add to their four points when they meet Chile on Saturday before a potential second-place decider against Japan in the last round of group games.
Relive the match below, get all the Rugby World Cup odds here and the latest tips and free bets on the World Cup here.
Japan 7 - 3 Samoa
26 mins: Japan penalty as Samoa are off their feet, and prior to that Seilala Lam also doesn’t release. They go for the posts.
Japan 7 - 3 Samoa
24 mins: Samoa penalty now as they put in a strong defensive effort from the scrum, Alai D’Angelo Leuila’s kick gives them three points!
Japan 7 - 0 Samoa
21 mins: Japan penalty now! Jonathan Taumateine gives a no-look pass behind his back to Ben Lam, but Lam can’t keep hold of it and Japan have the scrum now as the winger spills it forward.
Japan 7 - 0 Samoa
20 mins: Samoa have the scrum as Japan’s numbers were wrong in the lineout. They’ve conceded five penalties so far to Samoa’s one.
Japan 7 - 0 Samoa
19 mins: Japan are penalised as Shota Horie puts his knee on the ground in the scrum, Samoa kick to the corner.
TRY! Japan 7 - 0 Samoa
13 mins: Naoto Saito gets the ball quickly from the back of the scrum to set up a speedy passage of play, Pieter Labuschagne receives an offload from Kazuki Himeno after a break from Lomano Lemeki and he scores! It’s his second try in his career for the Brave Blossoms.
TMO is called to check that the offload from Himeno goes backwards, it does and the try is given.
Matsuda converts!
Japan 0 - 0 Samoa
12 mins: Knock on for Samoa, Japan have the scrum.
Japan 0 -0 Samoa
10 mins: Japan give away a penalty for not releasing. Theo McFarland safely gathers the ball in the lineout that follows.
Japan 0 - 0 Samoa
7 mins: Ben Lam is oozing confidence under the high ball, he’s made a couple of solid takes in the past few minutes.
Japan 0 - 0 Samoa
4 mins: Samoa give away a penalty now for obstruction, Japan choose to go for the corner. Rikiya Matsuda’s kick finds touch.
Taleni Junior Agaese Seu leaves the field early on for Samoa and is replaced by Brian Alainu’u’ese.
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