NZ Maori 65
Japan 22
KEY POINTS:
It was an easy win in the end for the Maori but it was achieved after 40 minutes of anxiety.
Japan were arguably the more creative team and certainly the more resourceful in that they made their scraps of possession go a long way.
Much of that was due to their impressive Kiwi contingent who had a hand in everything positive Japan did.
The star of the show was Bryce Robins at fullback who was too hot for the Maori defence to handle. The former Taranaki player made several telling intrusions and the Maori were guilty holding off, few in their backline showing the required aggression or line speed to make the big hit.
To see a Maori side almost passive in defence was bizarre. Maori teams of old prided themselves on their commitment in tackles but yesterday they were fragile through the midfield.
Without coming under much pressure former Auckland and Northland first five James Arlidge was able to pick his runners and all too easily they found the gaps. At half-time Japan led 22-17 after tries by yet another ex-pat, Shaun Webb, Christian Loamanu and Luke Thompson. It was a lead they deserved as the forwards had stuck in gamely despite conceding bulk and height to their Maori opposites.
Really, that is the great shame for Japan - that for all their endeavour and ability to create space and exploit it, they don't have the size to compete.
Rugby is, after all, a game won and lost on the gainline and at the collision and if you can't make an impact at the breakdown or in the set-piece, then life becomes very hard - as it did for Japan in the second half when the Maori's physical superiority finally started to tell with Japan dropping off tackles and running out of steam.
Having come off the bench, Hosea Gear made the most of his appearance, helping himself to a hat-trick. The Hurricanes wing has been a good player waiting to happen and is finally beginning to play consistently well.
He's strong, deceptively fast, although certainly not drop-dead quick, and surprisingly agile for a big man.
His second try came when he easily ran through a tackle after collecting turnover ball and then veered inside Robins with a huge step. For 70m out he had the gas to go all the way. By then it was obvious Japan were dead on their feet and it was a case of the Maori having to simply keep patient and composed and the points would come. "We had faith we could open it up," co-captain Tamati Ellison said. "Once we freed up the arms it was all right."
The second-half scoring blitz will boost the confidence ahead of the clash with Australia A which now looms as a title decider.
If the Maori are to win that game, they will need to work hard on their defensive pattern. The Australians will have seen how Japan fixed the inside defence and then exposed holes on the outer channels. They will also feel the Maori lineout was a bit scrappy and could be vulnerable under pressure especially if Jason Eaton or Ross Filipo is called into the All Blacks.
The forwards will need to correct other facets of their work, too, as they won't get away with not committing numbers to the breakdown as they did in Napier.
Liam Messam showed up well in the loose as did hooker Aled de Malmanche but there were concerns that too many forwards were looking to stand in the backs and have a run.
By the final quarter, the forwards were entitled to be fringing as that was where the opportunities were and there were some nice touches and good passages of continuity.
Filipo showed up well, carrying the ball to good effect, and Tanerau Latimer was the perfect link between the backs and forwards.
