All Blacks beat Japan 38-31 in unconvincing start to tour

Caleb Clarke in action for New Zealand against Japan at National Stadium in Tokyo.
Photo: Tsutomu Kishimoto / www.photosport.nz

The All Blacks have defeated Japan 38-31 in a shaky start to New Zealand’s end-of-year tour.

New Zealand had a narrow 21-17 lead at half-time and Brodie Retallick – who scored the opening try of the game – received a red card for a dangerous clear-out, with 14 minutes left in the match.

A try to outstanding Brave Blossoms flanker Kazuki Himeno in the 77th minute brought the score back to four points in the dying moments, but a 14-man New Zealand team held on for the win with a penalty in the last minute.

The makeshift All Blacks side were given a mighty scare in front of a crowd of more than 60,000 at Tokyo’s National Stadium.

Photo: AFP / Philip Fong

A three-try blitz had put New Zealand 21-3 ahead after 32 minutes but Japan, who have never beaten the All Blacks, struck back with two of their own to cut the deficit to four points at halftime.

Winger Caleb Clarke bulldozed his way through the Japan defence soon after the break to restore New Zealand’s lead, but Japan lock Warner Dearns slashed it back by charging down a Finlay Christie box kick and regathering to score.

All Blacks number eight Hoskins Sotutu barged his way across the line on the hour mark and that proved enough of a cushion even after Retallick was shown a red card in his 99th test for his clearout on Himeno.

Japan, who tackled everything that moved and attacked with every scrap of possession they earned, might take consolation from by far the lowest margin of defeat in their five official tests against the three-times world champions.

Japan’s Michael Leitch (R) catches the line-out ball during the rugby Test match between Japan and the New Zealand All Blacks at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
Photo: AFP / Philip Fong

Centre Dylan Riley had a hand in both of Japan’s first-half tries, his chip resulting in flyhalf Takuya Yamasawa’s score and an outrageous offload out of the tackle sending scrumhalf Yutaka Nagare in on the stroke of halftime.

Samisoni Taukei’aho, a late replacement for the injured Dane Coles at hooker, had a similar impact for the All Blacks with a line break to send Retallick in for the opening try and a long lineout throw that set up winger Sevu Reece’s score.

New Zealand’s second try in the 26th minute had an element of luck to it with centre Braydon Ennor crossing after what looked like a clear forward pass from Richie Mo’unga to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the lead-up.

The All Blacks conclude their tour in Britain with matches against Wales, Scotland and England over the next three weeks, while Japan play the English at Twickenham and France in Toulouse next month

– Reuters

See how the game unfolded with RNZ’s live blog