Tonga broke Japanese hearts and extended their record Rugby World Cup win drought on Wednesday with an action-packed 31-18 victory in the Pool A clash.
Sixteen points from the boot of Tongan five-eighth Kurt Morath made the difference as Japan slumped to their 17th consecutive World Cup defeat and failed in their bid to win two games at this tournament.
The victory, in front of thousands of members of New Zealand’s Tongan community, follows Tonga’s brave defeat to New Zealand and bitterly disappointing loss against fellow minnows Canada.
“Today we tried to get it right,” said captain Aleki Lutui.
“I’d like to thank the supporters, they mean a lot to us. Last week they were disappointed, now we’ve given them something to cheer.”
Tonga had the better of a helter-skelter first half 18-13 and they attacked from the kick-off when scrum-half Taniela Moa was held up just inches short in the first attack of the game.
Viliami Ma’afu crossed the line minutes later but replays showed he was held up by some desperate Japanese defending.
But the video referee had no problem with Ma’afu’s second effort when he picked up and charged over from a five metre scrum.
Japan hit back when wing Kosuke Endo made a clean line-break and prop Kensuke Hatakeyama mauled his way over the line in the 13th minute.
Alisi Tupuailai nearly ran the length of a pitch for an intercept try before being tackled but Ryan Nicholas then broke to set up Japan’s second score when Michael Leitch came on to an inside pass on the right wing and barged through a wall of defenders.
Tonga’s Morath kicked a penalty from 22m and another when Japan’s goal-kicking fly-half James Arlidge was sin-binned for offside.
But they were unable to make the numerical advantage count and it was Japan’s stand-in kicker Shaun Webb who coolly kept the Brave Blossoms in touch 13-18 with a penalty close to half-time.
However Fetu’u Vainikolo provided the killer blow with a brilliant finish from the right wing for Tonga’s third try.
Samoan-born Alisi Tupuaili kept Japanese hopes alive when he gathered a crossover pass and scored on 63 minutes, but some more last-ditch attacking from the Brave Blossoms could not prevent the stinging defeat.
“The Tongan team were tough and they deserved their win,” said Japan captain Takashi Kikutani. “We will keep up the good work in our last game against Canada.”
Japan’s final game is against Canada in Napier next Tuesday while Tonga play France in Wellington on October 1.
The match was not interrupted by an alarming fire just outside the stadium, with the flames visible behind the main terrace during the second half.
Firefighters were called and the blaze appeared to subside by the final whistle.
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