Rugby World Cup: Jubilant Japan on brink of first quarter-final with Samoa win
- Host team delight fans with their third straight victory to boost hopes of qualifying for last eight for the first time
- Japan play Scotland in Yokohama on October 13 in final pool match that will decide whether they go through
Kotaro Matsushima scored a bonus-point try deep into injury time as Japan moved to the brink of their first Rugby World Cup quarter-final with a 38-19 pool A victory over Samoa at the City of Toyota Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts, who turned the tournament upside down when they beat Ireland last week, moved to the top of the pool with 14 points and also secured their third victory in the pool phase for the second successive World Cup.
The loss ended the Pacific islanders’ chances of their first place in the knockout phase since 1995, although the grouping is not likely to be decided until Japan play Scotland in Yokohama in the last game of the pool phase on October 13.
Number eight Kazuki Himeno, centre Timothy Lafaele and winger Kenki Fukuoka also scored tries for Japan, while flyhalf Yu Tamura added 18 points with the boot in front of a passionate crowd of just under 40,000.
Ireland are second in the pool with 11 points while the Scots, with a game in hand, have five.
“It was definitely hard work out there,” Japan captain Pieter Labuschagne said. “It took us a long time. They are a good quality side and they showed it, especially in the first half.