HONG KONG: Rugby World Cup hosts Japan wrapped up their 10th straight Asian title and remained unbeaten in the competition with a hard-fought 16-0 win over Hong Kong on Saturday.
Tongan-born wing Amanaki Lotoahea crossed in the second half for the game’s only try, and fly-half Takuya Yamasawa kicked 11 points as Japan maintained their grip on the Asian Rugby Championship.
Japan’s latest Asian victory came in the week that Jamie Joseph’s Brave Blossoms were drawn against Ireland and Scotland in Pool A for the 2019 World Cup on home soil.
Japan have won 39 out of 40 games in the annual Asian competition, formerly the Asian Five Nations, with their only blemish coming when a 2015 game with Hong Kong was rained off and declared a draw.
But the Blossoms have been run close this season as Joseph, the former Otago Highlanders coach tasked with taking them to the World Cup, experiments with his line-ups in his first full year in charge.
Japan repeatedly trailed before beating Hong Kong 29-17 last week in Tokyo, conceding a bonus point for the first time in what was their smallest margin of victory so far in the competition.
On Saturday, a solitary Yamasawa penalty separated the teams at halftime and it took Lotoahea’s try shortly after the resumption to give Japan some breathing space.
It was Japan’s fourth victory in their final game of this year’s competition, following their 47-29 and 80-10 triumphs against South Korea and last week’s win over Hong Kong.
Japan will now look ahead to next month’s home Tests against World Cup opponents Ireland and Romania, who are also expected to join Pool A in 2019 after qualifying.
Tongan-born wing Amanaki Lotoahea crossed in the second half for the game’s only try, and fly-half Takuya Yamasawa kicked 11 points as Japan maintained their grip on the Asian Rugby Championship.
Japan’s latest Asian victory came in the week that Jamie Joseph’s Brave Blossoms were drawn against Ireland and Scotland in Pool A for the 2019 World Cup on home soil.
Japan have won 39 out of 40 games in the annual Asian competition, formerly the Asian Five Nations, with their only blemish coming when a 2015 game with Hong Kong was rained off and declared a draw.
But the Blossoms have been run close this season as Joseph, the former Otago Highlanders coach tasked with taking them to the World Cup, experiments with his line-ups in his first full year in charge.
Japan repeatedly trailed before beating Hong Kong 29-17 last week in Tokyo, conceding a bonus point for the first time in what was their smallest margin of victory so far in the competition.
On Saturday, a solitary Yamasawa penalty separated the teams at halftime and it took Lotoahea’s try shortly after the resumption to give Japan some breathing space.
It was Japan’s fourth victory in their final game of this year’s competition, following their 47-29 and 80-10 triumphs against South Korea and last week’s win over Hong Kong.
Japan will now look ahead to next month’s home Tests against World Cup opponents Ireland and Romania, who are also expected to join Pool A in 2019 after qualifying.
