- Pool D: Japan 28-22 Samoa
- Tries from Leitch, Labuschagne and Himeno seal win
Japan may not be setting this World Cup alight in the manner they did as hosts four years ago but they remain in the hunt for a place in the quarter-finals nonetheless after taking advantage of Ben Lam’s red card and eventually seeing off a defiant Samoa side.
They did their former assistant coach Steve Borthwick a favour in the process – England are now confirmed as the pool winners – and after tries from Michael Leitch, Pieter Labuschange and Kazuki Himeno moved Japan up into second spot, they face what is increasingly looking like a shootout for a spot in the last eight with Argentina next week.
Written by Gerard Meagher at Stadium de Toulouse
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/sep/28/japan-hold-off-samoa-comeback-to-seal-englands-passage-into-quarter-finals under the title “Japan hold off Samoa comeback to seal England’s passage into quarter-finals”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
