Love’s late impact helps All Blacks thrash Eddie Jones’ plucky Japan
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New Zealand's Ruben Love scores a try during the rugby union test match between the All Blacks and Japan at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama.
PHOTO: AFP
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YOKOHAMA – The All Blacks crushed Eddie Jones’ Japan 64-19 in a one-off Test which coach Scott Robertson said was a “convincing” performance, running in 10 tries despite a sleepy start and a tougher second half.
Debutant Ruben Love put a polish on the score by claiming two late tries in three minutes for New Zealand after coming off the bench in Yokohama on Oct 26.
The match was the All Blacks’ first in a tour that will also see them take on England, Ireland, France and Italy on successive weekends.
“It was a convincing win off some great defensive sets and great class touches and skills,” said Robertson, who also praised a “big and physical” Japan for giving his side problems at times.
“We gave the ball back too easily at times. We weren’t urgent enough, they got a couple of early set-piece tries.”
Japan drew first blood with Fiji-born winger Jone Naikabula steaming in to touch down by the posts in the fifth minute.
New Zealand hit back when Mark Tele’a rampaged down the left wing and scored in the corner before captain Patrick Tuipulotu held off three tackles to bundle over the line.
The Brave Blossoms bounced back immediately, attacking off a line-out, punching holes in the defence before loose forward Faulua Makisi crashed through a wide gap off a close-range ruck.
Japan lock Warner Dearns thought he had put the hosts back in front, taking a lucky bounce to break clear and gallop over the line, only for the try to be disallowed.
Then the flood gates opened for New Zealand with Billy Proctor, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Pasilio Tosi and Tamaiti Williams all scoring to make it 43-12.
Cam Roigard, back from a long injury break, took the visitors over the 50-point mark in the 44th minute after being let fly by hooker Asafo Aumua.
Japan then repeatedly pinned the now sloppy All Blacks in their 22, without breaching the wall of the New Zealand defence until reserve prop Uwe Helu, on his debut, scored the hosts’ third try.
However, any hopes of a fightback in the Nissan Stadium were crushed when Love crossed for two late tries.
“We left a lot of line-outs out there. One of the things we pride ourselves on is having top-quality ball off our line-out, especially so that our backs can get some go forward, so that was disappointing for us,” said Tuipulotu, captaining for the first time.
“Also our scrum didn’t really get the good march that we wanted, so that is something for us to work on against the northern European teams who love the set piece.”
Former England and Australia coach Jones, who returned to Japan in 2024, said his side “showed plenty of spirit and character in the second half, and played some good rugby”.
“We are only at the infancy of where we want to be at the moment, but it’s disappointing... By the next World Cup, we’ll be pretty good,” he added. AFP
