Summary

  • England qualify for the last eight as Pool D winners thanks to Japan's win

  • Japan run in three tries before 14-man Samoa staged late fightback

  • Samoa's Ben Lam sent off for head-on-head tackle early in second half

  • Japan's Shota Horie returns after similar incident in first half

  • Japan v Argentina on 8 October for place in last eight as Pool D runners-up

  • Samoa play England in final fixture

Live Reporting

Joe Rindl

  1. Japan 25-8 Samoa

    Samoa race forward but once again Japan discipline sets up a wall of red and white and their opponents show their impatience and concede another sloppy penalty.

    Story of the match. Japan have played this one perfectly.

  2. Japan 25-8 Samoa

    Another day, another example for the bunker review debate...

    Ben Lam of Samoa leaves the field dejectedGetty Images

  3. Get Involved

    #bbcrugby, via WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    This bunker system is an absolute joke!! Absolutely zero consistency!! How was the Japan hookers head on head contact mitigated as not dangerous, but Tom Curry's was??! Then soon as Samoa Ben Lam hits hard, yes there's head contact, yes fair enough upgrade to red, but for the sake of this World Cup fairness be consistent!! Who's making these decisions?? Footballers??!!

    Anon

  4. Penalty - Japan 25-8 Samoa

    Rikiya Matsuda

    Japan are building their lead. Rikiya Matsuda chips a simple kick over.

  5. Japan 22-8 Samoa

    Samoa concede a needless offside. Japan will go for points.

  6. Get Involved

    #bbcrugby, via WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    I understand why rugby wants to do something about head on head contact, but expecting players to bend and so lead with their head is absurd. You simply do not always have time to crouch and ensure your head will be to the side of the player you are tackling. The game is becoming unplayable.

    Tim

  7. Japan 22-8 Samoa

    Japan are looking to stretch the field. I reckon one more try, a bonus-point one at that, will make this result certain.

  8. Get Involved

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    I get all the analysis of the Japanese card staying yellow, but it seems to me that all those arguments could equally apply to Tom Curry so why did his get upgraded and his ban upheld?

    Mike

  9. Japan 22-8 Samoa

    Everest stuff. Samoa captain Fritz Lee did ask why Ben Lam was sent off and Shota Horie survived. The referee responds by saying the two challenges were nothing alike.

  10. Japan in control

    Japan 22-8 Samoa

    Hugo MacNeill
    Ex-Ireland full-back on BBC Sports 5 Extra

    Samoa are looking at climbing a mountain which has increased in size.

  11. RED CARD - Samoa's Ben Lam sent off

    Japan 22-8 Samoa

    The bunker review has decided. Ben Lam has been shown a red card for his dangerous shoulder-to-head tackle.

    Pieter Labuschagne of Japan is hit by a high tackle from Ben LamGetty Images

  12. 'Crucial score'

    Japan 22-8 Samoa

    Hugo MacNeill
    Ex-Ireland full-back on BBC Sports 5 Extra

    What a great try - Japanese fans are delighted. That is a huge score.

    Japan were held up short the first time, but not the second time it is such a crucial score.

  13. try

    Try - Japan 22-8 Samoa

    Kazuki Himeno

    Almost a carbon copy of Samoa's try.

    Japan win their line-out and a maul quickly develops, allowing the Cherry Blossoms to bulldoze over and Kazuki Himeno to go over at the bottom of a massive pile on.

    Japan's loosehead prop Craig Millar celebrates after Japan scored their third tryGetty Images

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    As an England Supporter, I would love Japan to win.

    Jamie

  15. Japan 17-8 Samoa

    Japan have a penalty five metres out after two Samoa players come in from the side. Japan kick to the corner. They're hoping to kill this game off now.

  16. Bunker review - Samoa

    Japan 17-8 Samoa

    We have another bunker review and I reckon this one might be a red!

    Samoa's Ben Lam leads with his shoulder and smashes into the head of an opponents. It meets the yellow card threshold and he's sent off to the bunker.

    Pieter Labuschagne of Japan receives treatmentGetty Images

  17. Get Involved

    #bbcrugby, via WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    RE: 8:55 That's not how the the law works. The onus is on the tackler not to create head on head contact and to bend at the hips. Mitigation only happens if the attacker is dipping into the tackle , or there's a change of direction . Upright into the tackle is exactly what the law is trying to stop.

    Anon

    - Samoa's tighthead prop Paul Alo-Emile is tackled by Japan's lock Jack CornelsenGetty Images

  18. Japan 17-8 Samoa

    Play has stopped again. We're reviewing a very nasty tackle from Samoa's Ben Lam.

  19. 15 v 15 again

    Japan 17-8 Samoa

    Samoa look a little too quick for their own good.

    Meanwhile, Japan are teaching them a rugby lesson with patient play seeing them inch forward.

    Shota Horie races back on after his yellow card.

  20. 'Great position for Samoa to attack'

    Japan 17-8 Samoa

    Hugo MacNeill
    Ex-Ireland full-back on BBC Sports 5 Extra

    That was a beautiful kick, we had nothing plays side-to-side and Christian Leali’ifano angled his kick.

    Great position for Samoa to attack from this.

    Samoa's fly-half Christian Leali'ifano kicks the ballGetty Images