A superb match in Brisbane was the highlight of the weekend amidst some pretty ordinary stuff from some big names and a near-upset in Osaka. Match reviews take one inside.
JAPAN 18 vs 22 WALES
Saturday, June 8, 05:00 GMT, Osaka
A makeshift Welsh side looked terribly disjointed and out of sorts for much of the game at Hanazono Stadium. The first half was a bit harum-scarum as Wales opted for the corner instead of the posts when early penalties were on offer, and their complacency was punished instead by two successful kicks from Ayumu Goromaru. After coming to their senses Dan Biggar responded with two of his own, but a well-worked set piece try by Michael Broadhurst put Japan into the lead at the half.
Robin McBryde must have read the riot act during the intermission because Wales responded with greater purpose to take the lead through the boot of Biggar, and Harry Robinson appeared to seal the victory with a run-in try. Yoshikazu Fujita’s late try made things interesting in the final minutes, but a Rhys Patchell penalty, his first international points, clinched a desperate win for his country.
Eddie Jones will rue missed opportunities as Goromaru missed three kickable shots at goal, and several unforced errors contributed to his team’s ultimate demise. Still, they will take heart and head into the second test in Tokyo with greater resolve. Wales will surely make changes, particularly in the back row where the absence of a genuine openside was keenly felt.
SCORING
Japan – A. Goromaru 1c 2p, M. Broadhurst 1t, Y. Fujita 1t
Wales – D. Biggar 1c 4p, R. Patchell 1p, H. Robinson 1t
CARDS
Wales – R. McCusker yellow
JAPAN
A. Goromaru; Y. Fujita, M. Sa’u, C. Wing (Y. Tamura 68), K. Fukuoka, H. Tatekawa, F. Tanaka (A. Hiwasa 64); M. Mikami (Y. Nagae 64), S. Horie (T. Kizu 30-33, 71), H. Yamashita (K. Hatakeyama 64); H. Ono, S. Ito; H. Tui (R. Yasui 71), M. Broadhurst, T. Kikutani (capt.).
WALES
L. Williams; H. Robinson, O. Williams, J. Spratt, D. Howells; D. Biggar (R. Patchell 64), L. Williams (T. Knoyle 60); R. Bevington (Rhys Gill 51), E. Phillips, S. Andrews; B. Davies (capt.), L. Reed; A. Coombs (A. Pretorius 51), J. King, R. McCusker (D. Baker 60).
NEW ZEALAND 23 vs 13 FRANCE
Saturday, June 8, 07:35 GMT, Auckland
Well it was a bit of a mess, both at the breakdown and especially the scrum, but squeezed in there somewhere was some pretty entertaining rugby. France scored a cracking early try through Wesley Fofana and had the All Blacks under pressure at every corner until a searing break by Ben Smith put namesake Aaron in under the posts. Ma’a Nonu featured prominently with a couple signature bursts, one of which gave Sam Cane his third test try.
The French had their opportunities, including a sure try that Louis Picamoles knocked on from an errant Florian Fritz offload, but just couldn’t put the points on the board. The All Blacks looked a little bit vulnerable at times and will certainly know they had been in a test match. Changes from both sides look likely for the second test in a week’s time.
SCORING
New Zealand – A. Cruden 2c 3p, A. Smith 1t, S. Cane 1t
France – M. Machenaud 1c 1p, C. Lopez 1p, W. Fofana 1t
NEW ZEALAND
I. Dagg (R. Ranger 65); B. Smith, C. Smith, M. Nonu, J. Savea; A. Cruden (B. Barrett 74), A. Smith (T. Kerr-Barlow 65); W. Crockett (B. Afeaki 74), D. Coles (K. Mealamu 55), O. Franks (B. Franks 60); L. Romano, B. Retallick; L. Messam, S. Cane, K. Read (capt.).
FRANCE
Y. Huget; A. Plante, F. Fritz (M. Mermoz 70), W. Fofana, M. Medard; C. Lopez (F. Michalak 65), M. Machenaud (Jean-Marc Doussain 43); T. Domingo (V. Debaty 52), D. Swarzewski (G. Guirado 57), L. Ducalcon (D. Kotze 52); S. Vaha’amahina, Y. Maestri (A. Flanquart 70); T. Dusautoir (capt.), F. Ouedraogo (Y. Nyanga 36), L. Picamoles.
QUEENSLAND REDS 12 vs 22 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
Saturday, June 8, 09:30 GMT, Brisbane
Finally a match that lived up to its billing, the Reds and Lions thrilled audiences with a wonderful advertisement for running rugby. Credit must go to both sides for their positive attitude, and also to the fine performance from referee Jerome Garces, who had to fill in on short notice for Jaco Peyper, forced to withdraw with food poisoning. Even when the wet conditions set in early in the second half, both sides were more than happy to move the ball and attack from anywhere.
Quade Cooper showed once again why he puts bums in the seats. Cheeky sidesteps, audacious passes, and moments of madness are never far from poster boy of Queensland rugby. Luke Morahan scored a magnificent individual try, and George North seemed determined to run over or around every man in a Reds jersey during his hour on the pitch. Though the Reds outscored the Lions two tries to one, the visitors were comfortably the best team on the pitch and were full value for the victory.
Several players put their hands up for test selection, not least Mako Vunipola, who lessened the news that both Cian Healy and Gethin Jenkins were out of the tour with another all-action performance to go with some solid work in the scrum. Sam Warburton went well in his first outing, and Ben Youngs reminded Mike Phillips that there was at least one more scrumhalf with ambitions of facing the Wallabies. As unenviable Warren Gatland’s task might have been to select the initial squad, selecting the 1st XV will be even tougher.
SCORING
Reds – Q. Cooper 1c, L. Morahan 1t, N. Frisby 1t
Lions – O. Farrell 1c 5p, B. Youngs 1t
QUEENSLAND REDS
B. Lucas (J. Lance 69); R. Davies, B. Tapuai, A. Fainga’a (M. Harris 53), L. Morahan (D. Shipperley 44); Q. Cooper (capt.), N. Frisby (J. Lance 64-69); B. Daley (A. Anae 23 {S. Denny 77}), J. Hanson, G. Holmes (J. Owen 36-HT, 69); A. Wallace-Harrison (R. Samo 54), E. O’Donoghue (R. Samo 12-18); E. Quirk, B. Robinson (J. Butler 54), J. Schatz.
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS
S. Hogg; A. Cuthbert, M. Tuilagi (G. North 20), J. Davies, T. Bowe (J. Sexton 46); O. Farrell, B. Youngs; M. Vunipola (D. Cole 64), T. Youngs (R. Hibbard 64), M. Stevens (A. Jones 64); R. Gray (P. O’Connell 63), G. Parling; D. Lydiate, S. Warburton (capt.) (J. Tipuric 74), T. Faletau.
SAMOA 27 vs 17 SCOTLAND
Saturday, June 8, 12:15 GMT, Durban
The first of a double header at Kings Park was a sloppy affair that closer resembled a pre-season smash around than a test match. Samoa got off to a fast start with tries to James So’oialo and Alesana Tuilagi, but then took the foot off the gas and allowed Scotland to chip away with fourteen unanswered points of their own. After a brief deadlock another try from the rampaging Tuilagi and the boot of So’oialo saw the Manu close it out for their first every victory over Scotland.
Neither team seemed to get into any sort of rhythm, and even though there were plenty of opportunities to put the ball wide, for the most part the outside backs were starved of possession. Tuilagi and Hurricanes star Alapati Leiua, impressive on debut, made the most of their chances and in the end that was the difference. The Scottish lineout was a shambles and they fell off too many tackles especially in the early going. Once again the kilted warriors are left scratching their heads after another flat performance against a beatable South Pacific side.
SCORING
Samoa – J. So’oialo 3c 2p 1t, A. Tuilagi 2t
Scotland – G. Laidlaw 4p, S. Lamont 1t
SAMOA
J. So’oialo; A. Leiua (B. Va’aulu 79), P. Williams (capt.), J. Leota (S. Mapusua 74), A. Tuilagi; T. Pisi, J. Su’a; L. Mulipola (S. Taulafo 65), O. Avei (M. Leiataua 54), C. Johnston (J. Johnston 54); F. Paulo, D. Leo (F. Lemalu 54); O. Treviranus, J. Lam, T. Tu’ifua.
SCOTLAND
G. Tonks; S. Lamont, A. Dunbar, M. Scott, T. Visser (D. Taylor 70); T. Heathcote (P. Horne 59), G. Laidlaw (H. Pyrgos 70); A. Dickinson (M. Low 65), P. MacArthur (S. Lawrie 10), E. Murray (G. Cross 45); G. Gilchrist, A. Kellock (J. Hamilton 65); A. Strokosch, K. Brown (capt.) (R. Wilson HT), J. Beattie.
