by Seven players achieved an attempt for Japan on Sunday in an overwhelming 62-24 route from Tonga, who brought the Rugby team of Asian men into the final of the Pacific Nations Cup.
Attempts from Amato Fakatava, Hayate -ära, Warner Dearns, Dylan Riley, Shinobu Fujiwara, Kenji Sato and Keijiro Tamefusa as well as a penalty attempt in the 79th minute triggered the Triumph Japan in Denver, Colorado.
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The fast Japanese led only 21-19 at half-time, but it was relentless to achieve five in the second half to send Tonga.
“We just had to defend better in the jerk,” said Japan coach Eddie Jones. “We gave Tonga too much scope on the front foot. We did a little and our game added a little more.”
Tonga has not beat Japan since third place in the 2015 Cup.
“It will always be a physical game against Tonga,” said Japan Dearn’s captain. “We were able to bring them and play our rugby, which gave us a little advantage.”
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Japan meets a later semi -finals between Canada and Fiji in the championship game next Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah. Fiji defeated Japan last year with 41: 17.
“We were able to make our set pieces and continue to fight for 80 minutes against a physical Tonga team,” said Japan in Tight Head Prop Shuhi Takeuchi by a translator.
“Next week will be very physical again, but we will check some good and bad points and we will do our best.”
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All four semi-finalists are qualified for the 2027 World Cup in Australia and the moderator of the Rugby World Cup 2031, the US American moderator for 29: 13 defeated in fifth place.
The US Eeagles have progressed after not qualifying for the 2023 World Cup in France.
Samoa meets in Chile in Salt Lake City next weekend and on September 27th in Santiago in a playoff series with two games for a World Cup place.
In the sixth minute, Tonga took over a 5-0 lead over Flanker Fotu Lokotui’s attempt, but Japan replied in the 10th minute on the long runaway from ERA, whereby the conversion Japan gave a 7: 5 lead.
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The Fakatava, born in Tongan, stretched out Japan’s lead in the 18th minute and broke out from a scrum for his fifth attempt at the tournament.
Tonga captain Ben Tameifuna scored in two parts in the 26th minute and Patrick Pellegrini’s conversion into two parts.
Dearns replied in the 32nd minute with an attempt, but Veikoso Poloniati’s attempt in the 38th minute pulled the Tonga at halftime within 21-19.
In the 42nd minute, Fujiwara’s short kick by Riley was packed and built up. Lee Seung-Sin kicked a penalty in the 50th minute, Fujiwara added an attempt in the 55th minute and Lee met another penalty in the 59th.
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Pellegrini replied in the 63rd minute with a Tonganian attempt, but reserves Sato and Tamefusa, and a penalty attempt in the last eight minutes increased the last lead in Japan.
“Only really disappointed. We have worked quite hard in the past few weeks,” said Tongas TaMeifuna. “We got points in the first half. We just didn’t build on it in the second half.”
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