Thank you all.
Thank you all for joining us in this intense duel with an exciting ending, it has been a pleasure to be with all of you, see you all again!
END OF THE MATCH: VICTORY FOR JAPAN
🏉 79'
Christian Leali'ifano converts the two extra points to make it 28-22.
🏉 78'
SAMOA TRY. Christian Leali'ifano's try to adjust the score.
🏉 76'
Penalty for Japan, converted by Rikiya Matsuda
🔃 74'
Change in Samoa with the entry of Ed Fidow.
🏉 66'
Samoa scores two more points after conversion by Christian Leali'ifano
🏉 65'
SAMOA TRY. Duncan Paia'aua's try to close the gap on the scoreboard for his team.
🔃 60'
Changes in both teams
🏉 56'
Penalty for Japan scored by Rikiya Matsuda
🔃51'
Samoa tries to react with several changes
❌ 50'
Rikiya Matsuda tried to convert the two points, but missed.
🏉 49'
JAPAN TRY. Kazuki Himeno's try to extend the lead for the Nipónón
🔃48'
Several changes in the Japan National Team
🟨 47'
Yellow for Ben Lam
⏱️ 41'
Second half begins
HALF TIME
The first half ended with 17-8 for Samoa;
❌ 39'
Missed two-point conversion Christian Leali'ifano
🏉 38'
TRY. Seilala Lam's try to close the gap on the scoreboard (17-8).
🟨 37'
Yellow for Shota Horie, first yellow for a Japan player
🔃 35'
Change for Samoa after conceding their second test. Alai D'Angelo Leuila left and was replaced by Toala
🏉 34'
Rikiya Matsud converted the two points for Japan
🟨 33'
In the action Jonathan Taumateine received a yellow card, the first of the match;
🏉 32'
JAPAN TRY. Michael Leitch scores the second try for his team to extend the lead (15-3).
🏉 28'
Rikiya Matsuda takes a penalty kick for Japan and does not miss it
🏉 23'
Samoa cut into the scoreboard. The penalty kick was scored by Alai D'Angelo Leuila Alai D'Angelo Leuila
🏉 15'
Rikiya Matsuda converts the conversion to give Japan a 7-0 lead.
🏉 13'
TRY. Japan takes the lead with Pieter Labuschagne's try.
This is how both teams started
This was the moment when the Samoa and Japan players took the field at the Toulouse Stadium.
The #DefendersOfTomorrow have us set for a huge Pool D clash#RWC2023 | #JPNvSAM | #Defender pic.twitter.com/0kPG27Isza
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 28, 2023
🔃 8'
First change in the Samoa National Team. Taleni Junior Agaese Seu leaves and Brian Alainu'u'ese replaces him.
❌ 2'
Samoa had the first chance to score the first points, but missed the penalty kick, Alai D'Angelo Leuila.
THE HYMNS ARE PLAYING
Before the start of the match, the national anthems will be played in a few moments.
Group D
This is how group D currently stands, right now England and Samoa are the teams that would go to the quarterfinals.
Samoa's roster
These are the players chosen by Samoa for their third match
Japan's roster
Japan's starting line-up confirmed for this third meeting
The arrival of Japan
The Nippon team is also on the scene of the duel
Ready for action in Toulouse @JRFURugby 🇯🇵#RWC2023 | #JPNvSAM pic.twitter.com/VamNIwdktA
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 28, 2023
Already in the stadium
The players of the Samoa National Team have arrived at the Stade de Toulouse
All the love for @manusamoa on their arrival 🇼🇸#RWC2023 | #JPNvSAM pic.twitter.com/Rwihoh7nCp
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 28, 2023
WE RETURN
In a few minutes the match between Japan and Samoa will kick off, both the preview and the minute by minute of the match can be followed here on VAVEL
Where to watch Japan vs Samoa?
If you want to watch the Japan vs Samoa match, you can follow it on TV through ESPN+
If you want to watch it online, VAVEL is your best option.
What time is Japan vs Samoa in Rugby World Cup 2023?
This is the kick-off time of the match in several countries:
Argentina: 4 p.m.
Australia: 6 a.m.
Bolivia: 3 p.m.
Brazil: 4 p.m.
Chile: 4 p.m.
Colombia: 14 hours
Ecuador: 14 hours
Spain: 21 hours
United States (New York): 3 p.m.
United States (Los Angeles): 11 hours
India: 1 hour
Japan: 4 hours
Mexico: 13 hours
Nigeria: 20 hours
Paraguay: 16 hours
Peru: 14 hours
United Kingdom: 19 hours
Watch out for this player in Samoa
Duncan Paiaaua, plays in the three-quarter position and is 28 years old. With his international team he has played eight matches in which he has scored four tries and one conversion. In this final phase of the World Cup he has played two matches in which he has scored a try.
Watch out for this player in Japan
Jone Naikabula plays in the wing position and is 29 years old. He has made six appearances for Japan and has scored four tries, including one in the opening match of the Rugby World Cup 2023.
How does Samoa arrive?
Samoa started with a victory in their first match against Chile, but lost against Argentina (19-10). Right now they are second in the group and would be qualified for the quarterfinals, but they have the same points as Japan and one behind Argentina. In their preparation they played two friendly matches where they beat Barbarians and lost against Ireland.
How does Japan arrive?
In their first match of the Rugby World Cup finals, they overwhelmed and defeated Chile by 42-12, while they lost to Japan by 34-12. Before playing the world championship they lost in a friendly against Italy and played the Pacif Nations Cup where they lost two matches and won only one of them. Right now they are third in the group with 5 points, the same as Samoa and one more than Argentina, which are the two teams with which the qualification to the quarterfinals will be played.
Background
Five times Samoa and Japan have faced each other with a balance of three victories for the Japanese team and two for Samoa. The last time they met was on July 22 of this same year in a Pacif Nations Cup duel that Samoa won 22-24. They already met in the 2019 World Cup finals in which Japan won by 38-19.
The Stadium
The match will be played at the Stade de Toulouse, which was inaugurated in 1937 and has a capacity of 33150 spectators.
Preview of the match
Japan and Samoa will meet in the Rugby World Cup finals match. For both teams it will be their third match and they are in Pool D together with England, Argentina and Chile.
Welcome to VAVEL.COM's coverage of Japan vs Samoa in the Rugby World Cup
My name is Manuel Carmona Hidalgo and I will be your antifrion for this match. We will offer you the pre-match analysis and news here on VAVEL.