England win through to Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after Japan beat Samoa

28 September 2023 , 21:09

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Craig Millar celebrates Japan's all-important third try in Toulouse (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

England won through to the World Cup quarter-finals last night without so much as kicking a ball.

Japan’s narrow win in Toulouse guaranteed Steve Borthwick’s team top spot in Pool D and, in all likelihood, a last-eight clash against Fiji.

The result was rarely in doubt once Samoa’s discipline deserted them half an hour into the match. Either side of half-time scrum-half Jonathan Taumateine was yellow carded then wing Ben Lam ‘bunkered’ and quickly upgraded to red for a shoulder-to-head shot.

It summed up Samoa’s thud and blunder performance as they had the lion’s share of possession but failed to convert it into points until too late.

Japan, showing off the tiki-taka passing game likened by Kevin Sinfield to Barcelona’s football team in its heyday, carved open the islanders for tries by back row duo Pieter Labuschagne and Michael Leitch.

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The Brave Blossoms rode their luck when hooker Shota Horie escaped a red moments before half-time after his shoulder-to-head was considered low level of danger.

Michael Leitch scores Japan's second try to keep alive their hjop[es of a last-eight spot (AP)

They then cashed in on their one-man advantage for captain Kazuki Himeno to put the game to bed with their third try.

Samoa hit back with late scores from Duncan Paia’aua and Christian Leali’ifano but ran out of time to complete the great escape.

England, who play Samoa tomorrow week, will be joined in the last-eight by the winner of Japan’s clash with Argentina in Nantes the following night.

JAPAN - Tries: Labuschagne, Leitch, Himeno. Cons: Matsuda 2. Pens: Matsuda 3.

SAMOA - Tries: S Lam, Paia’aua, Leali’ifano. Pen: Leila. Cons: Leali’ifano 2.

Alex Spink