Japan beat the United States 18-28 in their Rugby World Cup Pool B match which sealed third place in the Pool and earns them qualification for their tournament in 2019.
The next Rugby World Cup will be held in Japan in 2019 and the victory over the United States makes the 2015 World Cup their most successful in history.
Japan have become the first team ever in Rugby World Cup history to win three Rugby World Cup Pool matches but not qualify for the play offs. Japan’s only loss was to Scotland.
The Brave Blossoms had already caused the biggest sensation in World Cup history by beating South Africa 34-32 in their opening Pool B game.
But the simple victory over the American gave a fitting sendoff to coach Eddie Jones, who now leaves the post having said Japan would be the “team of the tournament” if they got three wins.
The winning points came from Kotaro Matsushima, Yoshikazu Fujita and Amanaki Mafi tries, and the reliable kicking of full back Ayumu Goromaru, who took his Test points haul beyond 700.
The 2019 World Cup is the first time the tournament will be hosted by an emerging rugby nation, meaning the Brave Blossoms were under pressure to show they merit the award.
“The guys have all played above themselves, they have worked hard, they played with a real spirit, they played how rugby should be played,” said Jones.
The Australian said he would definitely be heading for the Stormers in South Africa.
“I have done my job with Japan. When I took over Japan I wanted to bring pride back in the national team and I think we have done that so it is someone else’s turn to take it over.”
After the South Africa upset, Japan lost 45-10 to Group B runners-up Scotland, then beat Samoa 26-5.
The United States went into the match with only pride to play for, having lost 25-16 to Samoa, 39-16 to Scotland and 64-0 to South Africa.
Japan supporters among the 14,517-strong crowd wore kimonos, while some US visitors were dressed head to toe in Elvis Presley jumpsuits. One Japan fan had his body painted with a message thanking Jones.
Jones made four changes to the side that beat Samoa, with centre Craig Wing becoming the Brave Blossoms’ oldest World Cup debutant. The 35-year-old previously won 17 caps for Australia’s rugby league team.
The United States retained only Zack Test and Samu Manoa from the side that lost to South Africa, while full-back Chris Wyles returned to captain the Eagles.
The United States capitalised on some early pressure when fly-half Alan MacGinty successfully kicked a 45-metre penalty.
But Japan immediately struck back. A kick through by Kosei Ono allowed Fujita to run on and take the Brave Blossoms to within five metres.
With the Eagles stretched, wing Matsushima crossed the line in the seventh minute and Goromaru converted.
The Eagles then drove deep into Japanese territory and scored a try through wing Takudzwa Ngwenya, who ran through to touch down in the right corner in the 25th minute.
With Japan committing players under the posts, Ngwenya had the space to score his first World Cup try in eight years.
MacGinty’s conversion attempt fell well short however.
Japan were immediately back on the attack and soon after, Fujita scored his 50th Test try as the Japan pack drove for the line.
Goromaru converted then kicked a 33rd-minute penalty to extend Japan’s lead to 17-8 at half-time.
Goromaru scored another penalty in the 44th minute as Ngwenya was punished for being offside.
After Matsushima went off with a head injury, MacGinty scored a penalty in the 55th minute to keep the United States in touch.
But US loosehead prop Eric Fry was sin-binned and within seconds, substitute Mafi stretched over the line in the 62nd minute. Goromaru missed the conversion.
The Eagles were not deterred, however, and in the 72nd minute MacGinty released the ball for Wyles to score a try, which the provider converted.
Goromaru scored another penalty in the 77th minute to seal the victory and Japan were given a standing ovation at the final whistle.
Final Score United States 18 (8) Japan 28 (17)
Scorers
United States
Tries – Ngwenya, Wyles
Pen – MacGinty (2)
Con – MacGinty
Drop –
Japan
Tries – Matsushima, Fujita, Mafi
Pen – Goromaru (3)
Con – Goromaru (2)
Drop –
Match Officials
Referee: Glen Jackson
Teams
United States
Chris Wyles (capt); Takudzwa Ngwenya, Seamus Kelly, Thretton Palamo, Zach Test; AJ MacGinty, Mike Petri; Samu Manoa, Andrew Durutalo, Al McFarland; Greg Peterson, Hayden Smith; Titi Lamositele, Zach Fenoglio, Eric Fry
Replacements: Phil Thiel, Oli Kilifi, Chris Baumann, Cam Dolan, John Quill, Danny Barrett, Niku Kruger, Folau Niua
Japan
Ayumu Goromaru; Yoshikazu Fujita, Harumichi Tatekawa, Craig Wing, Kotaro Matsushima; Kosei Ono, Fumiaki Tanaka; Ryu Koliniasi Holani, Michael Broadhurst, Michael Leitch (capt); Justin Ives, Luke Thompson; Hiroshi Yamashita, Shota Horie, Keita Ingagaki
Replacements: Takeshi Kizu, Masataka Mikami, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Shinya Makabe, Amanaki Mafi, Hendrik Tui, Atsushi Hiwasa, Karne Hesketh
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