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There has been a late change to Japan's lineup as scrumhalf Yutaka Nagare has been ruled out. Naoto Saito has been called up from the bench, and uncapped Kenta Fukuda joins the substitutes.
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The referee for tonight's match is South Africa's Jaco Peyper. He will be assisted by New Zealand's Ben O'Keeffe and Craig Evans from Wales. The TMO is Marius Jonker, also from South Africa.
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The permutations in Pool D are enough to give a calculator a headache. With three wins from three, England have all-but qualified. Samoa, Japan and Argentina sit within a point of one another coming into this match. Japan have lost to England, but have yet to meet Argentina. Samoa have lost to Argentina, but have yet to meet England. This match will allow one side to steal a march on the others.
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Neither side’s destiny is entirely in their hands. Argentina, sitting one point behind in Pool D and with a game in hand on both Japan and Samoa after this match, will be paying close attention. They won’t want to miss out on the quarter-finals for a second tournament in a row. And, given how close the race for the second quarter-final spot behind England is, third place – and its automatic qualification for Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia – becomes just as important.
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Samoa head coach Seilala Mapusua has made four changes to his starting XV from the 19-10 defeat to Argentina. Taleni Seu comes into the back-row after an impressive 26 minutes off the bench last week, Sa Jordan Taufua replaces Steven Luatua at eight, Alai D’Angelo Leuila partners Tumua Manu in the centre, and Ed Fidow replaces Nigel Ah-Wong on the wing.
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Samoa: 15 Duncan Paia’aua; 14 Ed Fidow, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Alai D’Angelo Leuila, 11 Ben Lam; 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Fritz Lee, 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Theo McFarland, 4 Chris Vui (captain), 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Seilala Lam, 1 James Lay. Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Steven Luatua, 20 Alamanda Motuga, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Neria Fomai, 23 Danny Toala.
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Japan’s head coach Jamie Joseph has made two changes to his starting XV from their 34-12 loss against England, with Dylan Riley replacing Tomoki Osada in midfield and Lomano Lemeki coming in for Semisi Masiresa at fullback.
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Japan: 15 Lomano Lemeki; 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Jone Naikabula; 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 8 Kazuki Himeno (captain), 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Michael Leitch, 5 Amato Fakatava, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Jiwon Gu, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki. Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Warner Dearns, 20 Kanji Shimokawa, 21 Naoto Saito, 22 Seungsin Lee, 23 Tomoki Osada
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Samoa have won 13 of the 17 previous meetings between the two sides – including a 24-22 victory in Sapporo two months ago. Japan, however, had won the three previous matches – including fixtures in the pool phases of the last two Rugby World Cups.
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Both Japan and Samoa come into this match with a win, a loss, and five points from two matches, with the latter second in the standings on points difference.
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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Japan and Samoa at the Stadium de Toulouse.
1'
KICK OFF! 0-0. The anthems are sung, a powerful Siva Tau has been performed, and Samoa gets this crucial Pool D clash underway in Toulouse. Japan, receiving the kick-off, will play from left to right in the first half. 01
2'
Samoa win an early penalty inside their own half and decide to have an ambitious shot at goal. Centre Alai D’Angelo Leuila gives the ball a massive thump, but it drops just short of the crossbar.
4'
Samoa seeing plenty of early possession, but they lose the ball inside Japan's 22, before conceding a penalty on the 10m line. Japan kick for an attacking lineout on Samoa's 22, but the ball is turned over and cleared.
8'
It's end to end stuff as Lemeki does brilliantly to gather a kick for Japan and carry to just outside Samoa's 22. However, a wild pass is almost intercepted, but Tumua Manu knocks the ball on.
11'
Japan are starting to grow into the game and force a knock-on as Samoa try to attack from deep. The game restarts with a scrum on the 10-metre line.
13'
TRY, JAPAN, LABUSCHAGNE! 5-0. An excellently worked move from a scrum results in Pieter Labuschagne reaching over to score the opening try of the match.
14'
CONVERSION, JAPAN, MATSUDA! 7-0. Japan's flyhalf continues his perfect record at the 2023 World Cup by slotting the conversion to the opening try.
17'
Samoa fire back with some pressure of their own and win a penalty outside the 22-metre area. However, they turn down a kickable three points for an attacking lineout.
19'
Samoa lose possession from the lineout, but the ball is lost forward by Japan. A massive scrum sees Samoa get a penalty and another chance at an attacking lineout.
23'
Japan get a big defensive win by forcing a knock-on as Samoa attempt a planned move from an attacking scrum. However, Japan concede a penalty while trying to run the ball from their own 22. Samoa will take the shot at goal.
25'
PENALTY, SAMOA, LEUILA! 7-3. Samoa are on the board as centre Leuila slots a close-range penalty after a long period of pressure.
27'
PENALTY, JAPAN, MATSUDA! 10-3. Just as soon as Samoa get on the board, Japan restore the seven-point lead as Matsuda slots a 40-metre penalty.
29'
A wonderful linebreak sees Samoa go within a dropped pass of scoring. Japan regather the ball and break upfield to earn an attacking lineout. A clever move puts Matsushima on a run, but the winger is tackled into touch in Samoa's 22.
31'
TRY, JAPAN, LEITCH! 15-3. It's a second try for Japan, starting all the way back from a lineout in their own half. A powerful carry from Lemeki takes Japan into Samoa's 22. The ball is shifted to the opposite side of the field, where Leitch is on hand to finish in the corner.
32'
YELLOW CARD! In amongst all that, Samoa lost scrumhalf Jonathan Taumateine to the sin bin for a cynical off-the-ball tackle. Samoa will finish the half with 14 men.
32'
CONVERSION, JAPAN, MATSUDA! 17-3. Japan's deadeye kicker Matsuda lands the touchline conversion.
36'
YELLOW CARD! Japan hooker Shota Horie is sent to the sin bin for a head-on-head collision in an attempted tackle. Both teams are down to 14 men. The yellow card will be reviewed for a potential upgrade to a red.
36'
TMO CHECK! Japan hold out against Samoa's best phase of play, but the TMO wants to check a dangerous tackle.
37'
TRY, SAMOA, LAM! 17-8. It's a much-needed try for Samoa. It comes from a massive driving maul, which puts hooker Seilala Lam over the tryline.
39'
CONVERSION MISSED! 17-8. Leali’ifano steps up to take the angled conversion, but pulls his attempt wide.
40'
HALF TIME! 17-8. Japan see out a Samoan attack to take a nine-point lead into the break. This clash has been as physical as anticipated, but Japan have made the most of their territory and possession. Both teams lost a man to the sin bin late in the first half, and Samoa capitalised on a late opportunity to get a much-needed try. It's still anyone's game in the second half.
41'
KICK OFF! 17-8. Japan get the second half of this crucial clash underway. Jaco Peyper confirmed just before kick-off that Horie's yellow card for a head-on-head collision in a tackle has not been upgraded to a red, so Japan can breathe a sigh of relief.
43'
It's a good start for Samoa as Leali’ifano nails a 50/22 from just outside his own 22-metre area. However, a scrappy lineout sees Samoa concede a penalty and Japan clear to halfway.
46'
YELLOW CARD! Samoa wing Ben Lam becomes the third player to be sent to the sin bin in this match. His high tackle will be reviewed by the Foul Play Bunker as a potential red card.
46'
YELLOW CARD! Samoa wing Ben Lam becomes the third player to be sent to the sin bin in this match. His high tackle will be reviewed by the Foul Play Bunker as a potential red card.
46'
TMO REVIEW! Japan build the phases, but lose possession in Samoa's 22. However, there is a review on a potential high tackle from Samoa.
47'
TRY, JAPAN, LEITCH! 22-8. Back to their full contingent with Horie's return from the sin bin, Japan take full advantage with a massive driving maul putting veteran flank Leitch over for his second try of the match.
49'
CONVERSION MISSED! Matsuda has a first miss of the 2023 World Cup, shanking his attempt from the right-hand touchline.
50'
RED CARD! The TMO has confirmed that Ben Lam's yellow card for a high tackle has been upgraded to a red card. Samoa will finish this game with 14 men.
54'
Samoa's scrum produces a massive effort to shove Japan back, but concede a penalty in doing so. Matsuda will have a shot at goal.
55'
PENALTY, JAPAN, MATSUDA! 25-8. Matsuda keeps the scoreboard ticking over for Japan with a successful penalty.
62'
Japan think they have got their bonus-point try after Matsushima pounces on an error to score, but there was a knock-on spotted by the TMO in the build-up. The game will restart with a Samoa scrum on Japan's 10-metre line.
64'
TRY, SAMOA, PAIA'AUA! 25-13. The 14 men of Samoa have given themselves a chance! The try comes from brute physicality from Samoa's pack, taking them to within an inch of the tryline. The ball is then spread out wide for Duncan Paia’aua to score in the corner.
66'
CONVERSION, SAMOA, LEALI'IFANO! 25-15. Having missed his first conversion attempt, Leali'ifano lands his second shot from the touchline to cut the deficit to 10 points.
69'
A massive scrum from Japan on halfway leads to Nakamura making an incredible break out wide. He is pulled down just short of the tryline, but Samoa concede a breakdown penalty. Japan go for the five-metre lineout, looking for their fourth try.
72'
A big defensive effort from Samoa sees them hold Japan up at a maul and win a turnover. Leali'ifano clears, but his kick doesn't go beyond the 22-metre line.
73'
PENALTY, JAPAN, MATSUDA! 28-15. Japan win a penalty just beyond the 10-metre line, but this time they decide to take the three points. Matsuda splits the uprights to extend Japan's lead to 13 points.
75'
Samoa knock the ball on from the kick-off, but win a scrum penalty and kick into Japan's 22. A quick converted try from this lineout would suddenly make this a thrilling finish.
77'
TRY, SAMOA, LEALI'IFANO! 28-20. Hold onto your hats, folks! Samoa get exactly what they needed as Leali'ifano dashes over following a quick-tap penalty near the tryline. The 14 men of Samoa are not done yet.
78'
CONVERSION, SAMOA, LEALI'IFANO! 28-22. Leali'ifano converts his own try to bring Samoa to within a converted try of the lead.
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