Japan launch Pacific Nations campaign with win over Canada

Japan, warming up for the Rugby World Cup, launched their Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a 20-6 victory over Canada.

Japan captain and all-time leading point scorer Ayumu Goromaru booted five penalties and Yoshikazu Fujita had the only try of the game, which was the first of a double-header at Avaya Stadium before the United States took on Samoa in a clash of two teams that will join Japan in pool B of the World Cup.

Gordon McRorie kicked two penalties to account for all of Canada's points.

Goromaru put Japan ahead after just eight minutes, but Canada responded with sustained pressure, DTH Van Der Merwe getting around the Japanese line before his offload fell into the wrong hands.
Canada couldn’t convert and Japan scored what proved the lone try of the game in the 16th minute.

Kotaro Matsushima darted through the Canadian line and his offload found Fujita, who cruised in for his 25th test try.

Goromaru couldn’t add the conversion, leaving Japan up 8-0.

Canada responded with McRorie converting his first penalty of the game after Hitoshi Ono was penalized.

Goromaru extended the Japanese lead in the 29th minute to 11-3 with his second penalty of the night.

Minutes later, Japan were reduced to 14 men as Yu Tamara was sent to the sin bin for a tip tackle on Connor Braid.
Canada couldn't capitalize on the man advantage to put points on the board and trailed 11-3 at half-time after Goromaru missed a penalty in the 39th minute.

He made up for it in the 44th after Canada were penalized for not using the ball at the back of the scrum and less than 10 minutes later, the lead was 17-3.

After another penalty from McRorie in the 61st, Goromaru added his fifth and final penalty in the 67th.

The tournament had got underway earlier Saturday in Suva, where Fiji came from behind to beat Tonga 30-22 in the only match to be played in the Pacific.

All the remaining matches will be played in North America, with the six sides split into two pools and the top two sides from each group playing for the Cup on August 3 in Vancouver.
Source: AFP