Wales thrash Japan in try-fest
Shane Williams bagged a brace in the second half
Thursday, 20, Sep 2007 10:17
Wales scored 11 tries to trounce Japan 72-18 in the Rugby World Cup at the Millennium Stadium.
Alun Wyn-Jones, James Hook, Rhys Thomas and Kevin Morgan scored first-half tries for the Dragons.
Mike Phillips, Gareth Cooper and two tries apiece from Shane Williams and Martyn Williams completed the rout for the hosts in the second half.
The result sees Wales go second in pool B, tied on ten points with leaders Australia.
Japan took the lead on three minutes when centre Shotaro Onishi slotted over a penalty.
Wales hit back with a try four minutes later with Dafydd James finding Wyn Jones who touched down on the right wing, with Stephen Jones kicking the conversion.
John Kirwan's side scored one of the tries of the tournament on 18 minutes.
The Japanese broke down the left flank followed by a series of swift passes to the right with wing Kosuke Endo finishing off the sweeping move.
After another Jones penalty put the Dragons 10-8 ahead, Wales increased their lead on 23 minutes when Hook deceived Japan's defence with a slick dummy before scampering to the line.
Nine minutes before the break, Wales won a line-out with hooker Thomas bundling over for the hosts' third try.
On the stroke of half-time, Wales clinched the bonus point after full-back Morgan collected a pass on the left to touch down to give the Dragons a 29-11 lead.
Wales exploded out of the blocks in the second half with Phillips crossing the whitewash after just two minutes.
Phillips continued to inspire the Dragons' attack, catching his own chip over the top before feeding Shane Williams who crashed over in the right corner to make the score 41-11.
Four minutes later, the hosts' continued the rout with Jones passing to James to join the scoresheet.
Japan made the scoreline more respectable on 56 minutes when an interception from Alix Popham allowed Hirotoki Onozawa to gallop 60 yards and cross the line.
Wales then scored two quick-fire tries with scrum-half Gareth Cooper going over after a scrum with centre Martyn Williams touching down five minutes later.
Flanker Williams grabbed his second seven minutes from time after collecting Ceri Sweeney's pass.
And in the final minute, Shane Williams scored his 34th Test try to go ahead of Ieuan Evans on Wales' all-time try-scoring list.