The USA played their part in the game too, dominating the breakdown and winning repeated turnovers, and could well have won the match had they been more clinical and not knocked on the ball so persistently in attack.
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The fearless Blossoms put themselves under unnecessary pressure in the closing stages of the half as Michael Leitch tried to play his way out of danger following an intelligent kick from MacGinty.
Japan have bowed out of the 2015 Rugby World Cup with their heads held high after a 28-18 win over USA.
“It doesn’t change anything for us”, Jones said of the Scotland result.
“Maybe tonight, there were 30 million people watching in Japan – that’s the whole of the Australian population, plus the kangaroo population, New Zealand and all the sheep”, said Jones. “That’s not a bad support base”.
Japan end their Rugby World Cup adventure with a 28-18 victory over United States of America at the Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester.
“We’ve had a fantastic World Cup so the players are focused and will complete the job”.
Jones, who is leaving his role after the World Cup, said the team was well placed to make an impression as hosts of the competition in 2019.
But he had only praise for the Eagles for their doggedness. Japan also beat the U.S. Eagles for the first time in the tournament, after losses in 1987 and 2003.
It was a notable statement of intent by Japan, but they were rocked by a slick score from their opponents after 26 minutes when Biarritz speedster Ngwenya was freed in space by a long midfield pass from skipper Wyles, and he enjoyed a clear run to the line.
After making his name at the 2007 World Cup, it’s fair to say that Takudzwa Ngwenya hasn’t quite kicked on as everyone hoped he would after burning Bryan Habana on that famous evening in Montpellier eight years ago.
The United States dropped the ball at the restart, Yoshikazu Fujita flashed in, and he finished the move by scoring in-of all places for a winger-a rolling maul.
There was a special moment for Ayumu Goromaru from the follow-up, with his successful kick from the conversion taking him to the 700-point mark in Test rugby. Their fourth minute penalty was soon cancelled out by a sixth minute try for Japan and after Ngwenya scored his try with 25 minutes gone, they let Fujita through less than a minute after the re-start.
Goromaru and Alan MacGinty traded penalties before the impressive Amanaki Mafi took Japan out of sight with a try, so even when Chris Wyles sprinted over for a score which MacGinty converted, United States of America were still seven points down and a final Goromaru penalty sealed the win.
13 of Japan’s points on the night were scored by the boot of Goromaru, who took away the man-of-the-match award in Gloucester.
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Perhaps it’s World Cup organisers who should cry at Japan’s exit.
