Japan Triumphs Over Scoreless Georgia 

The Brave Blossoms disposed of any lingering discontent from their loss to Italy week ago by blanking Georgia 28-0 at Toyota Stadium in Aichi prefecture. 

The Georgians, ranked #10 in the world (one place below Japan) largely failed to trouble the hosts due to a multitude of unforced errors. 

 

A crowd of 14,776 braved the rain to see Japan outclass Georgia - John Gunning, Inside Sport: Japan, June 23, 2018
A crowd of 14,776 braved the rain to see Japan outclass Georgia - John Gunning, Inside Sport: Japan, June 23, 2018

Japan on the other hand adapted well to the wet conditions and pulled away with three second-half tries. The score would have been a lot higher but for Yu Tamura’s off day with the boot - the fly half converted just four of his eight attempts at goal. 

Yu Tamura struggled with his kicking in the wet conditions - John Gunning, Inside Sport: Japan, June 23, 2018
Yu Tamura struggled with his kicking in the wet conditions - John Gunning, Inside Sport: Japan, June 23, 2018

After a scrappy first half, Japan three penalties putting them 9-0 ahead on the scoreboard heading into the break. 

The first try of match came in the 49thminute when replacement lock Wimpie Van Der Walt shrugged off three defenders to smash his way over the line. 

Wimpier Van Der Walt got the game's first try - John Gunning, Inside Sport: Japan, June 23, 2018
Wimpier Van Der Walt got the game's first try - John Gunning, Inside Sport: Japan, June 23, 2018

 

Winger Lomano Lava Lemeki got into the action three minutes later showing individual brilliance to ghost through the Georgian defense to score. 

In the final act of play, Tamura’s perfectly weighted grubber kick behind the Georgian defensive line resulted in a five-pointer for Kazuki Himeno. 

 

Kazuki Himeno completed the scoring for Japan - John Gunning, Inside Sport: Japan, June 23, 2018
Kazuki Himeno completed the scoring for Japan - John Gunning, Inside Sport: Japan, June 23, 2018

While not achieving a perfect record, Japan enjoyed a successful home series against Italy and Georgia with the highlights being this result and the 34-17 whipping of the Italians two weeks ago at Oita Stadium.  

Coach Jamie Joseph will be pleased to have finished on a high note but knows his team will have to step it up immeasurably in November when the Brave Blossoms take on the All Blacks in Tokyo before departing on their European tour. Joseph’s men then face Eddie Jones’ England at Twickenham before playing Russia (Japan’s opponent in the opening round of the World Cup) at a neutral venue in Britain. 

- Todd Phillips: June 23rd 2018