New Zealand’s Maori All Blacks overpowered a Japan XV 53-20 in a non-test international on Saturday, running away with the contest after a close first half at Tokyo’s Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.
Two first-half tries from winger Kazuma Ueda helped the hosts take a 17-15 lead into the break, but the second half belonged to the visitors as they ran in six unanswered tries and avenged a 26-14 loss in the previous meeting between the sides last July.
Japan XV winger Kazuma Ueda scores a try against the Maori All Blacks in an international non-test match at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on June 28, 2025. (Kyodo)
Japan head coach Eddie Jones said the “big loss” provided “a lot of good lessons” for a squad comprised largely of young players looking to break into the test team.
“For a lot of these guys, it’s their first game above League One, so it’s a much higher level of game,” Jones said.
Maori All Blacks players perform their ceremonial pre-game haka war dance before playing against a Japan XV at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo on June 28, 2025. (Kyodo)
The Australian tactician praised the efforts of players including flanker and match-day captain Kanji Shimokawa, but said his team had come up short “in the air” and around the opposing ruck.
“We got beaten in the air, in terms of the quality of our kicking and our ability to take the ball in the air, and the second part was just in terms of being able to stop the speed of their ruck,” he said.
Japan will play the first of two test matches against Wales at Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu next Saturday.
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AloJapan.com